Family tributes to ‘wonderful daughter’

Kathryn Rivett, 18, from Carlton Colville, died in the collision on the A143-A146 Norwich road at Gillingham on Tuesday, July 17 along with her friend Sam Jaggard, who was also 18.

Their friend, 18-year-old Georgia Puttock, who was driving the Vauxhall Corsa in which they were both passengers, was injured in the crash and yesterday police said she had been transferred from Addenbrooke's Hospital at Cambridge to the James Paget in Gorleston where her condition is described as 'comfortable.'

This week Kathryn's parents, Martin and Lyn, of Airedale, Carlton Colville, told The Journal she had returned from a holiday in Turkey with Georgia and two other friends just four days before the fatal crash.

An apprentice travel agent at Thomas Cook in Norwich, Kathryn, who loved travelling, had arranged the week-long holiday in the resort of Gumbet, near Bodrum.

Mrs Rivett, 52, a support worker in day care for the elderly at Stradbroke Court in Pakefield, said: 'Kathryn organised the holiday and they had a wonderful time.

'They came back on the Saturday, before the accident on the Tuesday and she was as happy as she has been for a long time.

'Her friends showed us the pictures from Turkey and all her silly dances to music from her holiday – they are lovely, happy memories.'

Kathryn enjoyed life, she said, particularly partying and socialising and she had a big circle of friends.

'We've been amazed how many friends she had. They have all come over to reminisce and laugh about things.'

Mr Rivett, 52, an independent optomerist with a business in London Road South, Kirkley, added: 'Having her friends around has helped on two points – firstly it is comforting, and secondly it is a testament to Kathryn.'

As one of three children, Mr and Mrs Rivett said that Kathryn was 'very, very close' to her two older brothers Eddie, 29, and Jared, 26, who are both in the Army and to other members of their family.

'Kathryn was a bridesmaid at Jared's wedding to his wife Donna three years ago and looked beautiful,' Mr Rivett said.

'She was also very close to my parents who live in Gorleston and are both in their 80s. She always was very thoughtful.'

After leaving Kirkley High School with seven GCSEs and working as a waitress at the Norman Warrior pub in Lowestoft from the age of 16, Kathryn started a two-year apprenticeship at Thomas Cook last August.

Her work colleagues sent the following condolences to the Rivetts: 'There are no words that can describe what Kathryn meant to us as a colleague, but most of all as a friend.

'She always remembered the smallest details of our lives and always thought to ask after our families. She will be truly missed by us all.'

Mr and Mrs Rivett said Kathryn normally used the bus to get to and from work in Norwich, but on the day of the crash she was picked up by Georgia and Sam who had arranged to drive her home after shopping in the city.

Mr Rivett said: 'Kathryn had the day off on Wednesday, so she had arranged to have a meal with her friends on the Tuesday evening and was to meet them at 8pm. Her friends contacted us to ask where Kathryn was as she hadn't turned up for the meal and they couldn't get hold of her. We tried texting and ringing her – it was about 11.30pm when the police arrived on the doorstep and we knew something was wrong.'

He thanked everyone who had left messages of condolence.

'We both attend London Road Baptist Church and we've had a lot of support from the church family as well as friends of Kathryn, work colleagues, neighbours and family,' he said.

Mrs Rivett added: 'She was a wonderful daughter who will be sadly missed.'

Tributes were paid by local sporting clubs last week to Sam, of Ullswater, Carlton Colville, who was a talented golf player tipped for a professional career in the game. He and Georgia had also attended Kirkley High School.

Mrs Rivett said: 'Our thoughts are with Sam and Georgia's families at this time, and we wish Georgia a speedy recovery.'