Sarah Howard: ‘one of the world’s true gems’

8:29am Friday 16th May 2008

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A MEMORIAL service has been held to celebrate the life of a tour guide leader who died in a bus crash in Ecuador last month.

Sarah Howard, 26, of Wheelock Close, Kingsmead, died when the bus she was travelling in was hit by a lorry.

Sarah brought so much warmth, love and happiness to the lives of all who knew her.

Tribute paid at service

She was working as tour leader on her first expedition for student gap year travel specialist VentureCo. Four gap year students were also killed in the accident. On Friday a large congregation gathered to remember.

A tribute was placed in the order of service leaflet.

It read: "Sarah brought so much warmth, love and happiness to the lives of all who knew her.

"She connected with people and made sure she was never out of touch with anyone for long.

"She would be so proud of us all coming together like this in an act of remembrance.

"Her only regret would be that she couldn't be here to share this day with us.

"She is watching over us, loving us still.

"So long as we remember her she'll always be with us."

The Rev Martin Cripps then welcomed the congregation and recited an opening prayer.

Hymns included Morning has Broken, Lord of the Dance and Shine Jesus Shine while the poems were Too Soon by Mary Yarnall, She is Gone (anon) and Remember Me (anon).

Interspersed were friends and family's memories of Sarah, including one from her father Peter and brother Daniel.

Sarah founded a charity, Puentes, to help children in Lima.

Robyn Stevenson, charity secretary, said: "Sarah, I will always remember you as kind, caring, full of joy and a sense of adventure - one of the world's true gems.

"None of us can really believe you are no longer with us but we will always feel your presence and spirit in everything we do with Puentes.

"You were there at the start and will always be in our hearts."