A memorial scholarship fund for tragic bike crash victim Ewan Sampson swelled to $60,000 yesterday, with a $10,000 donation by the Freemasons.

Now trustees are getting ready to invite applications for their first university scholarship, in time for the 1999/2000 academic year.

Seventeen-year-old Ewan, a graduate student at Saltus Grammar School, had already secured his place to study information technology at the University of New Brunswick in Canada when his life was cut short in a bike crash.

He died after a head-on collision with a bakery van on April 21 on Middle Road, Southampton.

His bike slid out of control when the kickstand became caught on the road surface and he was killed yards from the spot which claimed the life of 27-year-old Mark North in another accident 11 days earlier.

Trustees will begin lobbying Bermuda's business community next week in a bid to find permanent sponsors for the fund.

And application forms will be sent out to Bermuda's schools in the New Year so an Ewan Sampson Memorial Scholar can be appointed in time for the next academic year.

Ewan's parents Tyrone and Penny are hoping the Island's budding computer experts -- like their son -- can follow their dreams at overseas universities by making use of the scholarship.

The fund is open to anybody studying information technology-related degrees.

It topped $25,000 towards the end of June, then $13,000 was raised in a month by Ewan's friends.

Trustee Tom Davis, President of Winchester Global Trust Company, said the fund was now touching $60,000.

The award would be around $12,500-a-year for students wanting to follow degrees in the US, Canada or UK, he added.

Mr. Davis said: "We have really had quite an overwhelming response from the public so far.

"The formal fundraising, lobbying businesses, gets underway next week.

Everything we've raised so far has come from donations.

"And many of them came in response to the original stories on Ewan's death which ran in The Royal Gazette .

"We have a fundraising committee in place which has been working very diligently.

"And they have put together a package of material to present to would-be sponsors in the business community, to make them aware of the scholarship.'' A three-year scholarship would cost $37,500. And trustees want to secure enough sponsorship to allow the fund to roll over every year for years to come.

"We are nearly there,'' he added. "And with one or two main sponsors, this will be a perpetual scholarship to serve as a lasting tribute to Ewan Sampson's memory.'' He also thanked trustees of the Freemasons Fund, who made the donation of $10,000.

"Their effort has been a tremendous demonstration,'' said Mr. Davis. "That kind of gesture is just wonderful.'' Freemasons representative Dr. Clarence James said: "The money came from all the freemasons' lodges of Bermuda, their donations and fees and any extra money raised for charitable purposes.'' Anybody wishing to contribute to the Ewan Sampson Memorial Scholarship fund should quote account number 70115742 at the Bank of Bermuda or 20-006-060-881768-200 at the Bank of Butterfield.

TEN GRAND GESTURE -- Freemasons presented $10,000 to the Ewan Sampson Memorial Scholarship Fund. Pictured (from left) are trustee Tom Davis, Ewan's mum Penny, Albert Jackson, of the fundraising committee, and Freemasons Tony Locke, Dr. Clarence James and Jim Hannam.

DEATH OBITUARY OBT