Tributes to our three Leeds angels

Tributes have been paid to a Leeds mum who died in the Manchester terror attacks.
A one minute silence in Victoria Gardens, Leeds today for the victims of the Manchester bombing   25th may 2017A one minute silence in Victoria Gardens, Leeds today for the victims of the Manchester bombing   25th may 2017
A one minute silence in Victoria Gardens, Leeds today for the victims of the Manchester bombing 25th may 2017

The family of Wendy Fawell, 50, had launched a frantic campaign to find her after Monday night’s blast and were hoping for news that she had escaped the atrocity.

However, yesterday police and her devastated family confirmed their worst fears.

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Her son Adam Fawell, 29, said she would be sadly missed and thanked all who had supported him and his younger sister Charlotte, 15, who had been at the Ariana Grande show with her mother and friends.

Mr Fawell, a self-employed labourer, said: “I want to say a massive thank you to all friends and family who shared posts to try and find her and all the messages that have been sent.

“It really means a lot to us for all you have done. RIP Mum you will be sadly missed.”

Staff at the school where Wendy, of Leeds Road, Otley, worked until recently spoke of their “deepest sadness”.

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On Thursday, St Oswald’s C of E Primary School, in Guiseley, said on Twitter: “It is with deepest sadness that I confirm that our former colleague Wendy Fawell was killed in the Manchester bombing. RIP, Wendy.”

Before her death was confirmed Mr Fawell had rushed to Manchester to try and find her and told the Yorkshire Evening Post they were hoping for “anything and something”.

More than 100 people attended a vigil for Ms Fawell in Otley on Tuesday evening

It was also confirmed yesterday that Courtney Boyle, a criminology and psychology student at Leeds Beckett University, was also among the 22 victims.

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She had attended the concert with her step-father Philip Tron, 32, who also was killed.

The pair were both originally from Gateshead and Courtney’s mum Deborah Hutchinson, said: “My stunning amazing beautiful daughter you were my rock, you made me so proud with all you had achieved.

“And my gorgeous crazy Philip, you made my world a happy place and now you are both my angels flying high in the sky.”

Professor Peter Slee, Vice Chancellor at Leeds Beckett University, said: “The whole University community is deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our hearts go out to Courtney’s family at this terribly distressing time.

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“Courtney was a lovely, bright and hardworking student who had achieved excellent marks in her first semester with us.

“She was enjoying university life and had built strong friendships.

“For all of these reasons, she is a great loss to the University and to her fellow students.”

He added that the Chaplaincy services have been in contact with Courtney’s friends at the University to offer support.

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Meanwhile, the heartbroken grandfather of a Leeds teenager who also died at the concert has told how the 14 year-old wanted to become an architect and study in New York.

Sorrell Leczkowski, of Adel, was a pupil at Allerton High School and was being collected from the event by mother Samantha and grandmother Pauline Healey, who both suffered serious injuries.

Mrs Healey remains in intensive care after 15 hours of surgery for shrapnel wounds and fractures to her arms and legs.

Mr Healey said: “Sorrell was only 14, but she was our rock, she kept us all grounded. She was such a clever, talented, creative girl, there was nothing she couldn’t do.

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“She was going to be an architect and wanted to go to Columbia University in New York to study so that she could build hotels with slides coming out of the rooms and so that she could build her mum a house.

“My wife is currently in intensive care, and Samantha is recovering from surgery as she tries to make sense of the devastating loss of her daughter.”

Elaine Silsen, headteacher at Sorrell’s school, added: “It is one day at a time but I am phenomenally proud of the way everyone in school has pulled together and I am inspired by the way our young people have been trying to cope with their loss.”

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