Boy, 16, found dead at home 'after shooting himself with his father's gun' Charlie Booth found by family member at around 10.30pm on Friday He was a pupil at £10,000-a-year Gad's Hill School in Higham, Kent Headteacher David Craggs announced his death at assembly today Pays tribute to 'friendly and enthusiastic pupil with so much to live for' Death not being treated as suspicious, gun believed to be licensed A teenage boy found dead after apparently shooting himself with his father's gun was a member of a school's cadet force which trains youngsters how to fire semi-automatic rifles, it emerged today. Charlie Booth, 16, was found at the home he shares with his father, Nicholas, 52, the director of a farm equipment supplier, and marketing assistant mother Julia, 48, in Cobham, Kent. Police confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious, but would not say whether it was an accident or suicide. The gun is believed to be licensed and Kent Police say they are not making any inquiries into the ownership of the weapon. Charlie was a Year 11 pupil at £10,000-a year Gad's Hill School, based at the former home of Charles Dickens in Higham, Kent. Prestigious: Charlie was a Year 11 pupil at £10,000-a year Gad's Hill School (above), based at the former home of Charles Dickens in Higham, Kent In mourning: News of Charlie's death was announced to pupils by headteacher David Craggs (pictured) during assembly this morning He was also a member of the school's Combined Cadet Force, which trains pupils in a range of military activities including shooting, survival training, rock climbing and taking part in assault courses. His efforts in the cadets were praised in the Gadshillian newsletter after the schoolboy took part in a cadet weekend at the Army's Lydd Firing Range in Kent last year. During the events, which according to the newsletter included 'weapons training, rock climbing and archery', cadets took part in 25m shooting range practice with semi-automatic L98A2 rifle, capable of 60-rounds-per-minute. The newsletter stated: 'Adventures included the popular assault course, weapons training, rock climbing and then shooting rounds on the 25-metre range. Charlie Booth proved himself as a pro on the assault course. News of his death was announced to pupils by headteacher David Craggs during assembly this morning. Location: Police were called to Charlie's home in Cobham at about 10.30pm on Friday after the boy's body was discovered Quaint: Charlie was found by a member of his family at an address in the village of Cobham (above, file picture), near Gravesend, Kent Mr Craggs said: 'Charlie was a remarkable young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him. 'Our first thoughts are for Charlie's family and I can say with confidence, that they have the heartfelt support and condolences of the whole Gad's Hill community. It is at times like this - to quote recent comments by President Barack Obama - we will all hug our own children a little closer over the next few days. Charlie was able to distinguish himself above other cadets, showing great strength, initiative and leadership, and he was a great friend to so many. 'You're in a better place now, bro': Friends took to Twitter to express their shock at Charlie's death Charlie was a friendly, enthusiastic, mature and self-confident student with so much to live for - attributes that make this tragedy even more difficult to comprehend. He will be greatly missed. 'His loss leaves his family, our school and the wider Gad's community in mourning and struggling to make sense of what has unfolded.' He said Charlie joined Gad's in the Junior School and soon proved to be an outstanding student, contributing greatly to all areas of school life and demonstrating 'huge talent' on the rugby and football fields and successfully competing for Gad's in cross-country events. He added: 'He was an excellent ambassador for our school, an NCO in the School's Combined Cadet Force and was due embrace his passion for adventure and his love for the outdoors on a once-in-a-lifetime school expedition to Alaska this summer.' He will be greatly missed Mr Craggs said he has kept the school open today as a mark of respect to Charlie and his family and also to 'unite in grief, helping and supporting his classmates and friends who may have been affected by his sudden death'. He said: 'Charlie's legacy will live on in our fond memories of him and in the eternal love of his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his friends today. Charlie lived with his parents in a large £300,000 country home along a private country track on the outskirts of the village of Cobham. It has a large front garden and two or three other smaller properties within its grounds. The only other properties along the track are businesses, Nook Animal Boarding and Scalers Hill Livery Stables. Mrs Booth is a marketing assistant at nearby Cobham Hall, an international boarding school for girls aged between 11 and 18. Mr Booth is a director of Palmers Agricultural, a farm equipment supplier with offices in Kent and East Sussex. Resident Ann Greenstreet said: 'I know the family through the sports fields, Charlie's dad Nick is really involved in the cricket club. It is terrible news, quite shocking - it is awful to think something so terrible can happen to some one so young. Historic: Dickens used the half-timbered pub Leather Bottle in Cobham in his novel Pickwick Papers No-one was answering at Charlie's house today. A neighbour said: 'I know they're not in because they told me they were going away for a few days.' His friends took to Twitter to pay tribute and express their shock today. Simon Till said: 'RIP Charlie Booth. A great friend from primary school and I used to love going round in the summer. Your in a better place now bro. Kelly Austin tweeted: 'Rip charlie booth, gone but never forgotten!' Louis J Lowell said: 'Horrible news. In tears and complete shock- RIP Charlie Booth, gone but never forgotten. Police were called to the Charlie's home in Cobham at about 10.30pm on Friday after the boy's body was discovered. A Kent Police spokesman said: 'We can confirm we attended an address in Cobham at 10.30pm and a 16-year-old boy was pronounced dead.' An inquest is expected to open later today. A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said: 'We can confirm we were called to a private address at around 10.30pm on Friday. Sadly the patient died at the scene. He did not confirm whether the teenager had died before paramedics arrived. Dickens made Gad's Hill Place his home in 1856 and penned classic novels including Great Expectations there. In the 1920s, the property was converted into a school for girls. Then, in the 1980s, the school admitted boys into its kindergarten and junior school, and in 2001 became fully co-educational and admitted boys throughout the school.