A TEENAGE boy has become the first islander in 30 years to be buried on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, where he lived for all of his 16 years.

Robbie Howson's funeral service at St Mary's Church was crammed with around 130 family and friends, paying their respects at the 90-seat church.

David Pugh, deputy secretary of Brownsea Castle and Robbie's neighbour, who had known him all his life, described him as a "celebrity".

The teenager had muscular dystrophy and travelled in his wheelchair to Victoria School at Branksome by flat-bottomed boat to the Royal Motor Yacht Club, where he transferred to a taxi.

His excuses for missing lessons were unusual, to say the least. "A few years ago the BBC Time Team hired his boat so he couldn't get to school," said Mr Pugh.

His parents, Steve and Wendy Howson, have lived on the island for 25 years and work for the John Lewis Partnership at the castle.

"He will be missed in many ways," said Mr Pugh. "He touched many people's lives."

Determined to live life to the full, he was a keen sportsman and captained his school team to win the national table cricket championship.

A highlight of his short life was meeting English and Australian cricket captains Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting this summer.

"He achieved a lot," said Mr Pugh. "He went on speed boat rides. There were lots of thrill-seeking things he crammed into his last year."

Robbie died in hospital from heart failure after being admitted with a digestive problem.

His last journey home across Poole Harbour to the island was on BP's Furzey Squirrel barge. The National Trust, RMYC and Victoria School helped with the arrangements to get everyone across to the island, many of the children in wheelchairs.

His brother Billy, 18, gave a moving tribute to his younger brother and the service was taken by the Rev Nigel Lloyd, assisted by Father Peter Huxham, who had christened Robbie at the island church.

A celebration of Robbie's life will be held at Victoria Education Centre on November 25.

First published: October 18