A SCHOOL headmistress has added her thoughts and condolences to a Facebook site demanding the return of a bronze sculpture of a dead 15-year-old schoolgirl. Since an expensive statue of Felsted pupil Camilla Hamilton went missing on Thursday March 11, a g

A SCHOOL headmistress has added her thoughts and condolences to a Facebook site demanding the return of a bronze sculpture of a dead 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Since an expensive statue of Felsted pupil Camilla Hamilton went missing on Thursday March 11, a group on the social networking site has attracted 1260 members.

Many of them have been leaving messages of anger and pleas for the safe return of the piece which carries huge sentimental value.

One of them is Jenny Burrett, headmistress at Felsted Preparatory School who on Sunday morning wrote: "I sat in chapel yesterday remembering how we celebrated Camilla's life in so many ways; the statue was a lingering and meaningful way of her memory staying with us and indeed a celebration of a young girl who loved life.

"We will talk of her again in our end of term service and all that she was does live on at Felsted in so many ways. Our recent production of Joseph was a real reminder of her very colourful moment as one of the brothers.

"Perhaps our School motto 'Garde ta foy' [keep the faith] is ever more appropriate to all of us who believe in standards and decency.

"I reflect ruefully on the fact that we were not more alert to this possible theft and that we can now only beg whoever has done this awful thing to come forward.

"My best wishes to David, Janice and Joe, their family and all Camilla's very special friends."

Camilla's brother Joe set up the Facebook group and has pleaded for help in finding the statue before it can be melted down and sold on.

He said: "We want to focus our efforts on trying to get the sculpture back and I have set up this group in the hope that someone, somewhere may know something.

"Please ask any friends, family, anyone and everyone you know to join the group. The sculpture meant so much to so many people - it would be such a tragedy to know it's been melted down to nothing. Please please please help."

The Facebook group link is http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=nf&gid=400804960287

Camilla died in a car crash in Pebmarsh in 2003 and the statue which depicts the schoolgirl playing hockey was paid for by a memorial fund in her name.

An inscription on it read: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will land amongst the stars."

Her parents were "devastated" and "felt numb with shock" when they learned that the statue had good missing.

Father David Hamilton said: "Words fail us to describe our thoughts of the people who committed this crime."

The statue overlooked the hockey fields at Felsted School and went missing during the early hours of the morning.

Anyone with information can contact police on 0300 333 444, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.