logo
Mum's heartbreaking tribute to ‘ray of sunshine' girl, 13, after tragic sudden death

Mum's heartbreaking tribute to ‘ray of sunshine' girl, 13, after tragic sudden death

Daily Mirror28-07-2025
Robyn Lott, who was a pupil at Accrington Academy in Lancashire, died suddenly aged 13 and her family have paid tribute with her mum describing her as "my absolute world"
A heartbroken mum has paid tribute to her 13-year-old daughter following her sudden death, stating she was a 'little ray of sunshine and my absolute world '.

Alison Ward said her daughter Robyn Lott, who was a pupil at Accrington Academy, was an animal lover and was 'always smiling and happy'. A fundraiser has been set up to help to help the family to cover the funeral costs with people attending asked to wear ears and tails if they wanted as these accessories were liked by Robyn. Mourners were also told to wear casual clothing for the funeral of Robyn who loved fashion.


Alison said: 'She was an angel. Her smile lit up the room and she was always smiling and happy – she had this brightness inside her as she was one of those bright, happy people.
'She was also very quirky and didn't 'follow the crowd'. She was her own person and she owned that. She was a little ray of sunshine and my absolute world. We would often blast music, dance around the kitchen and sing at the top of our voices – my phone is full of selfies of us doing silly, funny things.
'Robyn loved animals. We have a lot of pets and she has always been close to them. She loved fashion and she used to dress up and accessorise when she was little – she was so creative and loved drawing. She had her own style and was so unique – she wasn't one to follow the crowd or any particular trends."

Alison also told how she had been comforted by messages from people who knew Robyn and accounts of how her daughter was "kind and sensitive".
She said: 'I have had so many people telling me how sweet and kind she was. I've been told she has been the one to help classmates who were struggling and she was that kind of person – so kind and sensitive.

"She always wanted to help make other people feel better. The stories make me so proud of her – so many people loved her so much. I would do anything to have her back. She was beautiful inside and out.'
A funeral notice said that people are welcome to give new teddy bears which will be donated to charity. It added: "Robyn's Family have asked for people attending to wear casual clothing, with her favourite colour being purple.
"For people who would like to support Robyn's style, ears and tails are also welcome. Family, friends, school and social all welcome to pay their last respects at the Funeral."
And a GoFundMe page reads: "There are no words to describe the pain of losing a child and as Robyn's mum, dad and brother navigate this impossible situation, we'd like to support them in any way we can. Any donations will help ease the financial burden of funeral and memorial expenses."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Vegan activist begs for £14,000 to reclaim her passport so she can travel to UK protest
Vegan activist begs for £14,000 to reclaim her passport so she can travel to UK protest

Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Vegan activist begs for £14,000 to reclaim her passport so she can travel to UK protest

Tash Peterson and her boyfriend Jack Higgs are pleading for people to donate £14,000 to pay their bankruptcy trustees to leave the country and protest in Herefordshire A vegan activist, who went bankrupt after a court found she had defamed a vet, is now trying to raise money so she can leave Australia to go to the "world's biggest vegan camp out" in the UK. ‌ Tash Peterson and her boyfriend Jack Higgs had their passports taken from them when they filed for bankruptcy back in May when they were ordered to pay £134,000 (AUD280,000) in damages. They had been found to have published defamatory claims that a Perth vet was "eating her own patients", with Ms Peterson also claiming the court battle left her personal accounts "wiped", reports. ‌ The controversial couple have now returned to social media this week where they have urged their supporters to donate to a GoFundMe page they have set up to help pay $30,000 ordered by their bankruptcy trustees, with claiming it was to "prevent" them leaving the country. In a video posted on their channels, Peterson said: "Because of this, we are trying to raise funds so that I can give my speech at the Vegan Camp Out." ‌ 'The only purpose of our trip is to speak up for non-human animals. Not to run away. We only have one week to raise the $30,000 [£14,000]'. The GoFundMe is being ran by Peterson's mum, Sally, with the page urging people to put their hands in their pockets. On the page, it said: "Contributing to this bond will support their case for travel, and under special conditions such as they return to Australia and give their passports back, the bond will be returned. "If the funds are returned, all donations will be directed to the Farm Transparency Project, supporting ongoing animal rights activism." Since the GoFundMe went live this week, the couple took to Instagram where they defended their decision to set up the fundraiser and addressed concerns. Higgs further said they were "not pressuring anyone" to donate to the fundraiser, with people free to donate if they wish. Peterson is listed as a speaker at the event in Hertfordshire, and addressing why they simply cannot conduct their speech to the crowd, Higgs continued to say "live streaming cannot replace being in person" due to them networking at the event. ‌ Peterson also explained they cannot be certain the money will be donated to charity following their two month trip to the UK. At the time of writing, the couple have already amassed almost $3,458 towards their "business trip" to the two month protest. Peterson and Higgs have a unique relationship, as the doting boyfriend has no problem with his partner stripping off in public and insists it's all for a good cause. He even helps Peterson apply body paint before her raunchy protests and films her message-spreading videos on an adult website. Speaking to Australian media outlet The Project in 2022, Tash said: "I use my body to raise awareness for those who have no bodily autonomy, whether it be topless or close to being nude and I think it works brilliantly to raise awareness for animals." Tash said that her work helps her spread her message further, and also boosts her income so she can focus more fully on animal rights activism.

This is your last weekend to get brunch at this soon-to-close 52-year-old West Village favorite
This is your last weekend to get brunch at this soon-to-close 52-year-old West Village favorite

Time Out

timea day ago

  • Time Out

This is your last weekend to get brunch at this soon-to-close 52-year-old West Village favorite

If you've been meaning to finally try Elephant & Castle's famous eggs Benedict—or just want one more go at their goat-cheese-and-arugula pasta—you've got until Sunday. Yes, after 52 years at 68 Greenwich Avenue, the beloved West Village café will serve its last brunch service on August 17, closing for good after more than five decades of omelets, burgers and low-key celebrity sightings. Opened in 1973 by Dr. George Schwarz, a St. Vincent's Hospital radiation oncologist turned restaurateur, Elephant & Castle quickly became a neighborhood institution. Schwarz named it after a London traffic circle (and the pub that once stood there), then filled the menu with a then-novel blend of New American comfort dishes and brunch before brunch was even a thing. The place became a magnet for locals, Parsons students and downtown creative types—plus famous fans like Isaac Mizrahi, Mo Rocca, Victor Garber and Julianne Moore. The vibe? Think dark wood-paneled walls dotted with ceramic elephants, jazz playing at a civilized volume and staff who've known the regulars for decades. Chef Gary Kuschnereit has been in the kitchen since 1988; longtime manager Bonnie Jenkins started in '88 as well. Together they've kept the menu largely intact, ranging from French-style omelets and hearty sandwiches to Scarlett O'Hara's Coffee Cantata for dessert, even as dining trends came and went outside. But even with its fiercely loyal following, Elephant & Castle hasn't been able to withstand rising costs and shrinking crowds. St. Vincent's closing in 2010 dealt a blow to the steady stream of neighborhood diners and the pandemic years made recovery nearly impossible. 'It could not sustain itself financially,' Jenkins told Eater, adding that the decision to close was heartbreaking but inevitable. Regulars aren't taking the news lightly. Social media has been flooded with memories, tributes and desperate pleas for a white knight to swoop in. Some have floated a GoFundMe; restaurateurs Keith McNally and Danny Meyer have reportedly been approached to take over. So far, no savior has emerged. So if you want to sip one last perfect cup of coffee (the late Mimi Sheraton once called it the city's best) or tuck into that Gold'n Green omelet, clear your weekend. Elephant & Castle's final service is this Sunday and after that, the elephants go dark.

Police close investigation into death of Gogglebox star who fell 80ft at work
Police close investigation into death of Gogglebox star who fell 80ft at work

Metro

time3 days ago

  • Metro

Police close investigation into death of Gogglebox star who fell 80ft at work

The investigation into the death of Gogglebox star George Gibley has been closed by police over a year after he fell 80ft while working as an electrician. On March 27, 2024, Gibley fell through a skylight while working on a roof at EGL Homecare in Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea and was pronounced dead at the scene aged 40. A short inquest hearing was told his cause of death was traumatic head and torso injuries 'consistent with a fall from a height'. Two men, now aged 37 and 49 and both from Witham, were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the death, but charges have now been dropped and the investigation closed. Essex Police confirmed to the BBC they had both been released without charge and would face no further action. However, a criminal investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remains ongoing. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. 'The thoughts of everyone at Essex Police remain with George's family and friends,' a spokeswoman told the BBC. Gilbey appeared on the Channel 4 reality show between 2013 and 2018 with his mum Linda and stepdad Pete McGarry, who died aged 71 from bowel cancer four years ago. He also went on to appear in Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, finishing in fourth place. The family were popular on the show, with their down-to-earth personalities and funny quips. Linda paid tribute to her son weeks after his death, as she told Clacton Gazette he was 'generous, funny and kind'. She said: 'I'm devastated – he was like my best friend. He had the best heart in the world – he was generous, funny and kind, with bundles of charm and buckets of personality.' The star 'did more in his 40 years than people do in 90', she said. The grieving mother and widow also explained how when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease Gibley took it 'worse than her' as he was a 'mummy's boy'. 'George was a real contradiction – he was so funny and so intelligent. A lot of people don't know how intelligent George was,' she added. 'He was smart, which allowed him to be quick-witted, and he was loud and outgoing, but at the same time very sensitive. He helped others, but he struggled himself.' In a statement shared with Metro at the time of his death, a spokesperson for Gogglebox said: 'George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and step-dad Pete. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George's family and friends at this very sad time. The family have asked for privacy.' Gibley's funeral took place on April 25 2024 at Weeley Crematorium after a friend of the family, Rob Barlow, asked for donations on behalf of Linda. On a GoFundMe page, they wrote: 'Anything you can donate would be a great help to the family so thank you in advance, all money will go to Linda to pay for his funeral costs and any funds that are left over after will be given to George's eight-year-old daughter Amelie.' The fundraiser set a £5,000 goal but reached over £6,000. Metro has contacted Essex Police for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Celebrity Big Brother star Hardeep Singh Kohli accused of sexual assault at BBC studios MORE: Chris Hughes reveals old-fashioned way he confessed his true feelings to JoJo Siwa MORE: Jojo Siwa's ex Kath Ebbs reveals new romance after being left for Chris Hughes

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store