Head teacher leads tributes to "wonderful character"

From the archive, first published Wednesday 6th Dec 2006.

A HEADTEACHER has paid tribute to one of her pupils who was killed on the way home from school.

Skipton Girls' High School headteacher Jan Renou described Amy Howard as a pupil of "enormous potential".

Amy, 12, who lived with her family in Crossbank Road, Addingham, was crossing the busy Wharfedale Road when the accident happened at about 4.15pm on Monday.

She had just got off a school bus a short distance from her home when she was in an accident with a Honda four-wheel drive vehicle travelling towards Skipton.

Paramedics took her to Airedale General Hospital at Steeton where she died despite efforts to save her.

Her family was too distraught to speak but Mrs Renou took the lead in paying tribute.

"She was a bright student with enormous potential," she said. "Amy is a huge loss to friends and staff as she was a wonderful character within the class - people were especially appreciative of her warmth and sense of humour."

And she added: "She was a leader of positive feeling and able to create a friendly atmosphere wherever she went. The whole school community is devastated."

It is believed Amy's family only recently moved to their rural home in a former water board building - not far from the bus stop where the incident happened.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "It's been an accident waiting to happen on that road. There are no lights and there shouldn't be bus stops without lighting.

"We've told people about this before but no matter who we tell, no-one has listened. Maybe now they will. It's a tragedy but many of us round here feared something like this would happen."

Another man who lives nearby said: "That road is so dangerous. It's unbelievable there can be bus stops there but no lights. Someone has to take responsibility for people's safety."

Barry Maguire, marketing manager for Keighley and District Travel which runs the dedicated school bus service on which Amy was a passenger, said the company would help in whatever way it could with the police investigation.

However, he said, the bus was one of a handful of vehicles which was not fitted with CCTV.

Mr Maguire added: "The bus could have been one of two dedicated school buses we operate. The incident happened after the bus had pulled away so neither driver was aware of anything. We pass on our sympathy to the family involved."

On the grass verge close to the accident, a simple tribute written on a card among a bouquet of cream-coloured roses read: "Amy Sweetheart, you were an angel in life, now safe in the arms of the angels in heaven".

Police have appealed for witnesses to get in touch and help piece together what happened.

The driver of the Honda CRV had to be treated for shock.

You too can post your tribute to Amy here