A "POPULAR and dedicated" engineer who died from a sudden illness, aged just 23, has had a special trophy named in his memory.

Lee Gaughan, an award-winning apprentice and design technician at Baxi Potterton, Padiham, died last June from bronchial pneumonia following a short illness.

Lee, a former Gawthorpe High School pupil, was so well thought of by colleagues and bosses at Baxi that they asked his proud parents Keith and Jean, of Langdale Road, Padiham, if they wanted a special apprenticeship trophy named after him.

And Mr and Mrs Gaughan presented the award for the first time at Blackburn-based Training 2000's recent Engineering Awards Evening at Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho.

They handed over the Lee Gaughan Memorial Trophy to the top NVQ Level 3 technician, Graham Banks, of Bamber Bridge-based Inbis.

Keith, 59, said: "Lee won the same award two years ago when he was at Training 2000 and we felt it was appropriate to remember our son in this way. We were very proud of his achievements and so when Baxi said they were sponsoring the award and getting a new trophy we were really pleased."

Jean, 53, added: "It shows how well thought of he was at work for them to agree to name this award after our son.

"Lee was really dedicated to his job and was a popular lad, if he set his mind to something he did it.

"His friends still come round to our house to see us."

Steve Pilkington, of Baxi Potterton, said: "Lee was a high achiever who put tremendous effort into everything he did. He had a great future ahead of him, but sadly that future was cut short by his sudden and untimely death.

"Lee is greatly missed by his friends at Baxi Potterton and we as a team can think of no more fitting memorial than this award which he won himself."

Training 2000 chief executive Steve Gray said the Lee Gaughan presentation had been a poignant moment for all the staff who had known the young engineer, who was a keen runner and snooker player. "We were pleased to agree to the family's request for a trophy in Lee's memory," he said. "Lee had impressed everyone at Training 2000 with his enthusiasm and dedication and it is fitting that he will be remembered in this way."

Lee was the youngest of three children.His brother Karl is 35 and his sister Samantha, 34.

l Other NVQ Level 3 awards went to: Mechanical Assembly - Simon Wilson, Aircelle, Burnley; Electrical Assembly - James Collins, Turkington Industries, Burnley; Mechanical Maintenance - Duncan Westlund, Castle Cement, Clitheroe; Electrical Maintenance - Aizaaz Patel, Mondi Paper, Little Lever; Machining - Mark Taylor, Graham Bracewell; Toolmaking - Philip Wells, Presspart Manufacturing, Blackburn; Fabrication - Paul Sussams, Leyland Trucks, Leyland; and Technician - Graham Banks, Inbis, Bamber Bridge.