FRIENDS have paid tribute to a budding entrepreneur and a performer who stood out from the crowd, after they died in a car crash last weekend.

Tristan Cook and Dominic Arnold, both 16, were in the lower sixth at Christleton High School.

Tristan's mother lived in Littleton and his father in Waverton. Dominic lived with his mother in Boughton.

She and other members of Dominic's family flew back from a holiday in Australia after the crash at the weekend.

Classmate Sam Dooley said Tristan dreamed of starting his own nightclub called ICE in the future and had taken the first steps into business by launching a Young Enterprise company called ICE Entertainments with classmates. The group's first event was to be a disco for younger Christleton High School students this weekend, which will now be held in Tristan and Dominic's memory.

Sam said: 'All I had with Tristan were good times, I can't remember a single time when I was sad or down around him.

This year we have become really close mates, it is really sad losing someone so close to you.

Sam said Dominic, known as Dom, was an 'individual' who liked to stand out from the crowd.

Sam, who was in Dom's form group for six years, said: 'Dom was always doing something different to everyone else - his haircut was a good example of that.'

A keen performer, Dominic played the drums and was studying art, drama and design and technology A-levels. He and Tristan had recently been to music gigs together.

Tristan was a keen sportsman, playing for Chester Nomads FC and attended kickboxing training at Heavy Hitters gym in Hoole.

Niell Fraser managed Tristan for three years in the Nomads' junior squad and this season had been pleased to see him graduate to Chester Nomads 3rds team.

He said: 'I always said I couldn't hope to manage a nicer set of lads. Tristan was behind the team 100% whether he was playing, organising the team or watching from the sidelines.

'He wasn't loud, he wasn't brash - he was well mannered and always had a big grin.'

Tristan's teammate, Upton High School student Andy Royle, 16, said: 'He was a really reliable, honest guy, he was always there for you.'

Rob Fitzgerald, 16, left Christleton High School last summer and has fond memories of both his classmates. He also lived close to Tristan's mother's home in Littleton.

Paying tribute to Tristan he said: 'He was my best mate. I could talk to him about anything and we knew a lot about each other.

'We shared some great memories that I will never forget. He and Dom will always be in my heart.'

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Next page: Friends set up memorial shrine in park  > > >

Friends set up memorial shrine in park

GRIEVING classmates of Tristan Cook and Dominic Arnold this week mounted tributes across the city.

News of the 16-year-old Christleton High School pupils' deaths was passed on via internet message sites at the weekend.

A shrine of photographs, letters and flowers has been constructed in Grosvenor Park, where the boys often met their friends.

At Christleton High School, where the pair were lower sixth formers, pupils and staff have written tributes and drawn cartoon caricatures of them on a sculpture in the grounds and in memorial books.

The crash site on the A41 has been covered in flowers and tributes.

Players at Chester Nomads FC, where Tristan played for the 3rds team, have signed one of his old number nine shirts and hope to present it to his family.

A minute's silence will be held during all Nomads matches on Saturday and past and present players will gather afterwards to remember Tristan.

The boys were well-known by pupils across the city.

At Christleton High School on Monday headteacher Tony Lamberton spoke to the sixth form and a minute's silence was held at the school carol service on Monday night.

Students were given the opportunity to go home early and support and advice was given by Cheshire County Council critical incident team and the school chaplain.

Mr Lamberton said: 'The school has been devastated by the tragic death of Dominic and Tristan.

'Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of both boys at this dreadful time.'

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Next page: Tragic pair enjoyed last party > > >

Tragic pair enjoyed last party

ON SATURDAY night, 16-year-olds Tristan Cook and Dominic Arnold left a house party, where they had been laughing and joking with friends.

Within hours they were both dead, after the car they were travelling in overturned on the A41 near Dragon Hall police station, near Broxton.

As shocked teenagers across Chester built shrines to the pair this week, their friends remembered the last time they saw them.

Christleton High School sixth former Sam Dooley said the pair were enjoying themselves at the Hoole party on Saturday night.

He added: 'At one point me, Tristan and Dominic were sitting on the couch all together, all laughing and drinking with each other.

'That was the last time I saw them, they will always be in my mind, not a day will go by without me thinking about them on that night.'

Sam first heard there had been a car crash when hospital staff called his mobile phone in the early hours as they searched for the boys' next of kin.

He said: 'My number was one of the last ones Dom had called so they called me. They just told me there had been a bump and I thought nothing of it. I couldn't believe it in the morning when I found out what had happened.'

Tristan's former manager at Chester Nomads FC, Niell Fraser, said:

'He had injured his arm a few weeks ago and he came up to show off his bandage with a big grin on his face - he was really proud of his first footballing injury.'

Andy Royle, an Upton High School student, met Tristan for a drink in the Nomads training ground bar on Saturday afternoon and later saw him at the party.

He said: 'I saw Tristan just as he was getting into the car and he asked me to go with him.

'I wasn't sure whether to go or not and he said it would be okay, but decided not to go. He said 'See you later' and that was the last time I saw him.'

The grey Volkswagen Polo Tristan and Dominic were travelling in lost control on the A41 near Broxton just after midnight.

They were among five teenagers in the grey Volkswagen Polo. Two others received hospital treatment but the fifth youth was unhurt.

Glyn Hellam of Cheshire Police said: 'The two vehicles involved were both travelling in the Chester direction, one behind the other, when the driver of the VW Polo seemed to lose control.'

He added: 'The second car, a blue Volkswagen Golf, stopped at the scene but was undamaged and its three occupants were uninjured.'

Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and have been released on bail. They must return to Blacon Police Station in February. 

* Anyone with information should call DC Robbie Burns on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

YOU can leave your tributes to Tristan and Dominic by clicking here