Tribute to Denham 23-year-old after Chalfont St Peter crash (From Bucks Free Press)

Tribute to Denham 23-year-old after Chalfont St Peter crash

10:20am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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THE family and friends of a 23-year-old trainee teacher who died following a car crash have paid tribute to a “bubbly, intelligent person who loved life”.

Elaine Stacey was driving to her Denham home after helping at a Girl Guide event in Chalfont St Peter on February 28 when she was involved in a collision on the A413.

She was taken by air ambulance to Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital, but she died peacefully from her injuries seven days later.

Her parents Ray and Averil said: “Elaine was an awesome, vibrant, bubbly, intelligent person who loved life. She will be missed by all who knew her. She always went the extra mile to help and care for people.”

The former Robertswood and Dr Challoner's High School pupil had always enjoyed working with young people and was working as a trainee teacher at Viking Primary School in Northolt.

Headteacher Sue Townson described Elaine as “a breath of fresh air and full of life”.

She said: “She was well liked by colleagues, children and parents. She had an impact on everybody in her time at the school and she will be very well remembered and sadly missed.

“We wanted her to stay because she was showing so much promise. She was a very promising young teacher.”

In her spare time Elaine, who had an 18-year-old sister called Jo, was a Girl Guide Leader, helping youngsters in Brownie and Guide groups in the area with the Baden Powell award.

She also enjoyed trampolining – a sport she won a Gold Certificate Award in – and travelling.

A committed Christian, Elaine attended St Mary's Church in Denham and sang with their choir and helped youngsters at church events.

She studied Theology at Sheffield University before going on to do a postgraduate Cert Education course at Brunel University in Uxbridge.

Rev Adrian Hirst, rector at St Mary's Church, said Elaine's death was “a tragedy”.

He said: “This is an amazingly bubbly lady with so much life and energy.

“There were lots of things she was going to do but hadn't started. One of the things was singing back with the choir.

“It's a story of what was going to happen but never did. There was so much potential it was incredible. It's just a tragedy: a 23-year-old with everything before her and it just comes to an end.”

Elaine's father said she is now enjoying eternal life with the God she loved and served.

He said around 400 people are expected to come to her funeral at the church on Friday March 26.