THE mother of a barrister shot dead in a gun siege at his London flat - has given a touching insight into his life.

Speaking from the family home, in Alderley Edge, Cheshire Rosemary Saunders said that son Mark had been an 'exuberant, caring, bright and articulate son, who had a zest for life and loved taking on new challenges'.

And she said the family continued to be shocked and baffled by his tragic death, after he was hit at least five times by police marksmen during a shoot-out at his London home.

"He was a very enthusiastic child and he remained like this throughout his adult life," said Rosemary, from Brook Lane. "He had a lot of drive and initiative. He was so exuberant and that's why what's happened is so inexplicable."

Mark spent his childhood at the family's Alderley Edge home, initially attending Mount Carmel infant school, before being accepted to Macclesfield's King's School junior division at the age of seven.

During his time at independent King's the bright and articulate youngster was a frequent performer in the school's dramatic productions. In 1993 he took on one of the lead parts in Nicholas Nickleby, which took seven hours to perform and had to be presented over two evenings.

And teachers at school say his roles on the stage helped to prepare him for his future in the courtroom.

Mum Rosemary says that at the age of 12, when she was studying part-time for a degree in Law, he would often read the weighty tomes that she would bring home. And, she says, when his older sister went to Oxford University, Mark set his own sights on studying at prestigious Christ Church College.

"He used to visit his older sister in Oxford and decided he wanted to go there," she said. "We tried to dissuade him, thinking he might be aiming too high but he was `in for a penny in for a pound' and his view was go for it and at least you tried."

Pupilage

After graduating from Oxford and passing his bar examinations, Mark was one of four students offered pupilage at the prestigious QEB chambers, specialising in family law.

It was at QEB that mark met his future wife Elizabeth, who he married two years ago.

"They adored each other and were devoted to each other," said Rosemary. "They were so happy together and Mark was so protective of her."

During his early 20s Mark had joined a TA regiment, the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), and took part in the gun salute at the Queen Mother's 100 birthday. Although he had not been involved with the HAC for more than five years, his mum said he kept up with the friends and would attend weekend game shoots with friends and colleagues. On the day of his death Mark, aged 32, had received a letter inviting him on a game shoot later this year, which his mother said he was looking forward to.

Throughout the years Mark continued to be keen to take up a challenge. And four years ago completed the London Marathon, without any advance training.

This weekend Rosemary and husband Rodney had been looking forward to a trip to Venice with Mark and his wife Liz; a journey she no longer wishes to make without her son.

Rosemary said: "It's bad enough to lose your child, let alone in this way. It's such a waste. It's not really a consolation, but he packed it all in and in 32 years he did as much as some people do in 80."

An inquest into Mark's death has been opened at Westminster Coroner's Court and adjourned until September. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to hold a separate investigation into the shooting.

A funeral service is scheduled to take place at Christ Church College, Oxford. "I'm hoping it will be as nice as it possibly can be," said Rosemary. "He loved it there."