THE parents of tsunami victim Charlotte Jones underwent a harrowing ordeal this week when they travelled to London for the mass inquest into the deaths of the 91 Britons killed in the Boxing Day disaster.

Liz and Alan Jones, from Love Lane, Petersfield, were two of many relatives from all over the country who attended the four-day inquest at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in the hope of finding answers to their many questions.

Afterwards, speaking from his home, Alan told The Herald: "It was very insensitive timing because of the first anniversary of the tsunami coming up. This is a difficult time for us and I do know for a fact that a lot of families declined to attend."

He said the first he and his wife knew of the impending ordeal was two weeks before Monday's opening of the inquest, when they were informed by their police family liaison officer.

"I personally would have preferred it if it had been in late January next year, but we felt we had to go because there are many questions that we just don't have the answer to," said Alan.

During the inquest, Liz and other relatives raised a host of questions, including why no warnings appeared to have been issued or passed between different countries hit by the tsunami. They said their relatives would be alive if they had had known just five minutes earlier.

But victims' relatives and friends were told the coroner had a restricted remit which was limited to determining and recording essential facts concerning each death - the identity of each victim, when where and how they met their death.

Charlotte was just 23 years old when she died on the tiny island of Racha Yai, south of Phuket in Thailand, on Boxing Day.

She had been on a gap year trip that started in India before taking her to Thailand. She had planned to move on to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand before tragedy struck.

Alan, Liz and their younger daughter last spoke to Charlotte on Christmas Day, just 24 hours before the giant wave struck. She had been very excited, having just done her first sea wreck dive.

She was spending Christmas on Racha Yai with her travelling companion Becky Bate, a childhood friend from Clanfield.

And now, after the inquest and as the first anniversary approaches, the Jones family are planning a trip to Thailand. They plan to visit a memorial set up on the island by Charlotte's friends and to set up education scholarships for girls affected by the tragedy, as a living memorial to their beloved daughter.

In the last year the Jones family have raised a staggering £18,650 through Char's Fund by fund-raising events, sponsorship for Alan's half marathon runs, a charity concert at Churcher's College and generous donations.

"Now we have to start the process of putting this money to good use," Alan told The Herald.

"We want to set up scholarships for girls aged between 12 and 18 to enrich their lives as a living tribute to Char."

"We will be visiting the British Consulate in Phuket to organise this. It is our understanding that many Thai girls fall out of education at the age of 12 to support their families and we want to provide some support up to the age of 18," said Alan.

He said he and his family were still raising money for Char's Fund and would be delighted to receive donations instead of Christmas cards. Anyone who would like to make a donation should contact Alan at [email protected]">[email protected]

Danielle Horn, a long-time friend of Charlotte's, is also planning to undertake a trek next year and is currently raising sponsorship for the fund. She can be contacted at http://www.artshole.co.uk">www.artshole.co.uk

In addition, Alan is keen to make anyone affected by the tsunami and the coming anniversary aware of the support available.

"Many relatives of victims will need support, and many survivors will be equally affected and I am anxious to make everybody aware of the support network which can be reached," he said.

A national support committee is currently being set up and Alan has offered to serve on this in an effort to provide help for relatives and survivors.