Tributes paid to bright and caring Eastbourne student

Twenty-one-year-old Connor Southgate attended Causeway School, Hailsham Community College and was in his final year studying geography at University College London.

He volunteered for the Samaritans and had many friends who he often visited including those living in Europe.

His parents Stephen and Jackie Southgate, who live in Percival Road, Eastbourne, said their son had a short but meaningful life and brightened everyone’s life.

Mr Southgate said, “Connor cared deeply how other people were feeling. It is obvious that his care for other people extended to everyone he came into contact with. He would support others.

“He would make us laugh and bring us together as a family.”

An inquest into Mr Southgate’s death was held at Eastbourne Town Hall on Thursday (September 3) after his body was found at the foot of cliffs at Beachy Head on January 5 this year.

The inquest, which is open to the public and the press, heard Andy Crawte was collecting fossils on the beach below the cliffs when he found Mr Southgate’s body.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze returned a verdict that Mr Southgate had taken his own life.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.