PUPILS at a Canterbury school are mourning the grandaughter of Lord Attenborough, who was killed in the Far East tsunami disaster.

Lucy Holland, 14, a pupil at the King's School, was on holiday with her family in Phuket, Thailand, when an undersea earthquake triggered the devastating wave.

Lucy's mother, Lord Attenborough's eldest daughter Jane, and grandmother--also called Jane--are both missing presumed killed.

Her sister Alice, 17, survived and is in hospital in Singapore. Her father, Michael, and brother, Sam, were not hurt.

King's School head Canon Keith Wilkinson said everyone connected with the school was shocked and saddened at the news.

"Lucy was always a vivacious and talented girl of great spirit and style, who had a wide circle of friends here and elsewhere. She will be missed by us all.

"We shall remember Lucy on special occasions in due time next term. Our sympathy and prayers are with Lucy's father, brother and sister in their suffering, loss and grief."

In October, Lucy accompanied her grandparents Lord and Lady Attenborough to a showing of The Canterbury Tale at the Gulbenkian Theatre, in which Lady Attenborough (Sheila Sim) starred.

On that night she said: "I've never seen the film and I'm looking forward to seeing my grandmother on the screen."

As a child aged seven, Lucy was photographed presenting a bouquet of flowers to her grandfather's great friend Diana, Princess of Wales, at the premiere of his film In Love and War.

Lord Attenborough, 81, once recounted his granddaughter's preparation for the meeting. He said: "She practised her curtsy at length, but in the last minute she was asked to present a programme with the bouquet and, in her confusion, she forgot to curtsy.

"I mentioned to the princess that Lucy was mortified, so she asked to be shown the curtsy, and said: 'I've never seen a more perfect one.' Lucy was devoted to her after that."

In a statement the family said: "Lord Attenborough and his wife ask that the news media respect their need for privacy at this terrible time. None has anything further to add."

Nirj Deva, MEP for the South East of England, was also caught up in the disaster. He was in Sri Lanka when the tidal wave struck, and is taking part in the disaster relief.

Speaking on the telephone from Sri Lanka today, Mr Deva stressed that the greatest need was for medical supplies.

Antibiotics and medicines for the treatment of dysentery are urgently needed, together with tablets for purifying water, and food and clothing for the children.

Mr Deva asked that aid for the many thousands of children affected by the disaster be channelled through the Save the Children Fund, which has an effective organisation in Sri Lanka.

Mr Deva is co-ordinator of the European Parliament's Development Committee.