‘THE golden-haired boy who all the girls loved’ is the way Tim Parry’s best mate has described him.

Gareth Boldsworth, who went to Great Sankey High School with Tim, said he feels honoured to have been friends with the keen football fan and cannot wait to tell his one-year-old son about him.

The Lego marketing director has spent time in Denmark and Germany but is now settled back in Great Sankey with his pregnant fiancée Victoria, aged 32, and son Dylan.

He added: “Tim was a great friend and I do still think about him every day.

“He was very funny, had a cheeky side to him and was one of those kids who was good at everything.

“He was one of the best friends I could have wished for.”

The 31-year-old met ‘mad Everton fan’ Tim on a taster day before starting at the school and said they were almost inseparable straight away.

Days would be filled playing football wherever they could and the Manchester United fan says even though they were not friends for long before Tim’s tragic death it felt like they were ‘soul mates’.

On the day of the IRA bombing, Gareth had not gone into the town centre as usual and heard the news on the radio.

He said: “My instant reaction was I bet Tim doesn’t shut up about it on Monday and how he was in the town centre when it happened.

“I didn’t think it would have affected him.

“It said on the news a teenager had been hurt and Tim was taller and older so I can understand why they thought that.

“I thought he would pull through and the fact he survived for five days shows what a strong boy he was.

“It was by far the worst week of my life and I felt like my whole world had fell apart.

“I remember Colin calling to say he had passed away peacefully and he was so strong telling me but I can remember at the time thinking this shouldn’t be happening.”

Despite Tim only being in the first year of high school, Gareth said the popular pupil’s death left the entire school devastated.

A memorial is now in place on Barrow Hall Lane where Tim and Gareth used to play wrestling and it is a spot where he has taken his son and fiancée.

The Liverpool University graduate added he was thankful for the support he had at the time from his parents, the school and Colin and Wendy and paid tribute to the strength and courage shown by the family including Tim’s brother and sister Dom and Abbi.

He added: “I look at Colin and Wendy, who have created a lasting legacy, and admire how strong they have been and I know if anything had happened to Dylan I couldn’t have done what they have.

“I almost have moments of guilt when things happen to me that Tim never got to experience like falling in love, having your heart broken or the birth of your first child.

“When Dylan was born I had a moment of reflection thinking about Tim.

“I think if he was alive now he would have been famous.

“He never had an interest in it but looking back now he seemed destined to be remembered, unfortunately it’s for tragic reasons.

“He touched so many people with that twinkle in his eye and cheeky smile, he would have been someone special.

“I’m proud of Tim and for being his friend.”