| Location | Romford |
| Age | 19 years |
| Cause of Death | Road Traffic Collision |
| Date of Birth | 10/12/1986 |
| Date of Death | 17/09/2006 |
| Visitors | 21,387 since 15/11/2006 |
| Creator | |
| Helpers |
MY DARLING DAUGHTER, MY SISTER, MY BEST FRIEND, MY SOULMATE
Sarah Ann Davies was taken so tragically and suddenly at 2.46am on Sunday 17th September 2006, after
being hit and run over by two cars on the dreadful M25 2nd lane, between junctions 2 and 3,
southbound (from Dartford Bridge). She'd already escaped from a car crash being driven by her
friend while travelling home from Dartford pub with 2 other friends. The 3 friends survived. She
was 19 years, 9 months and 7 days old.
----------------
SEPT 2008 - UPDATE
Romford Recorder, Friday 5th September 2008
Headline -
Jurors weep over deaf teenager tragedy
GIRL DEATH CRASH: NO JAIL FOR DRIVER
The driver who caused a terrifying motorway crash that led to the death of a deaf Romford teenaged
girl, has avoided a jail sentence.
Victim Sarah-Ann Davies, of Romford, survived the collision but was hit by another car as she walked
into the road to warn other motorists.
Simon Allen, of Edith Road, Canvey Island, (Southend) Essex, was fined £1,500 and banned from
driving for two years, by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court on 27th August 2008, after being cleared
of dangerous driving, but admitting careless driving.
The jury was not told, until after returning verdicts, that 19-year-old Miss Davies was killed in
the incident on the M25 at Darenth, Kent.
The judge said Allen's driving was "lamentable" and had horrific consequences, but added: "The fact
is, however, my powers are constrained in the light of the jury's verdict."
The court heard Miss Davies was in a Renault Clio driven by close friend Lauren Smith, then 19, in
the early hours of September 17, 2006. Miss Smith's brother Lee was also a passenger. All had
hearing problems and travelled to a Dartford pub that held functions for the deaf.
John O'Higgins, prosecuting, said Miss Smith was in the middle lane at 50mph when Allen crashed into
the back of her at about 70mph.
He said Allen, 41, did not see the Clio until it was too late.
Both cars came to rest on the central reservation, pointing in the opposite direction. "The case
against Mr Allen is that he is responsible for a wholly avoidable collision," said Mr O'Higgins.
The jury had to decide whether it amounted to dangerous driving. The prosecution suggested careless
driving was inadequate.
Miss Smith had only held a full licence for seven months and not driven on a motorway before.
Mr O'Higgins said the rear lights were on, making it perfectly visible to Allen. The Clio would
have been visible for about 500 metres before the collision.
Allen denied he had been inattentive or distracted. He denied dangerous driving, admitting careless
driving.
Mr O'Higgins said Miss Davies had been drinking when she stepped into the motorway in a manner which
was completely unforseen after the collision.
"In what may have been an attempt to warn other drivers, she was knocked down," he said. "It falls
into the category of an event which was unforseen and not a direct consequence of what happened in
this accident. For that reason, the defendant is not charged with causing death by dangerous
driving. He falls to be dealt with for the lesser offence of careless driving."
The prosecuter said Allen had criminal convictions, as well as an endorsement for speeding shortly
before the crash.
Jurors hearing about the tragedy for the first time wept as they left the court. Miss Smith and
other friends and relatives were also distressed.
Peter Clark, defending, said Allen's bad driving had appalling consequences. He had been a lorry
driver but gave it up after the crash. He was now an installation engineer.
-----------------
Sarah had only started her first proper job two weeks before, on 1st September 2006, with Parcel
Force in Romford. She lived in Romford, Essex almost all her life.
Sarah was born at Barking Hospital on Wednesday morning of 10th December 1986 at 9.40am, a sister to
Victoria who was born two months prematurely in March 1985 at the same hospital. They were close in
age, 21 months apart, as both were planned to give each other company and grow old together. We'd
lived with Sarah's grandparents - my parents, Ivy and Henry Cordes - in Seven Kings from her birth
until 3 days before her 1st birthday when Sarah's dad Jay (my first husband and father of Victoria
as well) and I moved into our first house in the Mawney area, Romford, with our 2 daughters.
We first found out that Sarah was Deaf on 10th February 1987, when she was exactly 2 months old
after a routine hearing test. Followed by a second opinion at the Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital
confirmed her profound congential hearing loss. Her parents are Deaf too but Victoria is hearing.
The cause of both Jay and my deafness were unknown at that time apart from the story of Rubella that
our mothers contracted during pregnancies in the early sixties. They believed at that time that
Rubella caused deafness. As I am profoundly Deaf from birth myself, with encouragment from my
hearing family to talk without signing prompted me to teach Sarah to develop her vocals from a very
early age to help strengthen her speech and pronounce words for the hearing to understand as she got
older. I am glad it paid off as Sarah learned to talk singular words from about 18 months old and
went on to speak well with the use of her hearing aids. Sarah started at a school for the Deaf in
South Woodford, East London, in September 1989 at the age of 2 years and 9 months. Sadly the school
had to close down in July 1990, after 40 years which broke my heart as it was also my school from
the ages of 3 to 16. The next school Sarah went to was a local unit for Hearing Impaired at Hacton
School in Hornchurch, Essex, which was an intergration of deaf and hearing children. From there,
she met twins Lee and Lauren Smith, Gary Cutmore, Shelly-Ann Pye, Mandy Briden and Alex Wood who all
went on to become Sarah's firm and best buddies right up to Sarah's departure from this life.
Jay and I parted in 1991 and divorced in 1992, and having sold our house during that time, the girls
lived with me alone in a rented house in Horndon Road until I started seeing Andrew in May 1992 and
we married exactly a year later in May 1993, with both girls as our bridesmaids. Sarah called
Andrew 'Dad' almost from the start and insisted on adopting his surname when she was still only 6
years old. We moved into our own house just down the road two months later in August 1993, after
our return from a two-week holiday in Florida, and it's become a home filled with so much love,
laughter, ups & downs and memories and a home that Sarah loved very, very much for the next 13 years
of her life.
Andrew and I have since given Victoria and Sarah two brothers, both now 12 and 10. * SEPT 2008 now
14 & 12 *. When I was expecting Adam, Sarah wanted a brother so much and it came true for her when
Adam was born at Rush Green Hospital in March 1994. Her reason for wanting a brother was to teach
and play football with him! Sarah was even more happier when Connor came along in December 1995 at
Harold Wood Hospital.
After Hacton, Sarah went to Mill Hall Primary School (now renamed Mary Hare Primary School) for the
Deaf in Newbury, Berkshire - in October 1997 when she was in Year 6 (aged 10/11) - her second school
for the Deaf since the Sir Winston Churchill Primary School for the Deaf closed down seven years
earlier. Mill Hall was a weekly residential school which meant that Sarah stayed at the school 4
nights and 3 nights at home a week, so it gave her a good balance of home and school life. One year
later, after passing her entrance exam, Sarah got a place at the Mary Hare Grammar School for Year
7. This secondary school was a termly boarding school, which meant seeing less of Sarah at home.
Looking back, it gave Sarah mixed feelings of homesickness and enjoying boarding school life with
many Deaf friends and I only wished that a compromise was made at the time between Mary Hare and our
LEA (Local Education Authority) to enable Sarah to continue her education at Mary Hare for the next
4 years.
I wont go into detail here, but that was the beginning of Sarah's 'downfall' for the next 2 years.
Changing schools again - this time our LEA refused to give us our option of sending Sarah to a
different weekly residential school for the Deaf so it was Sanders Draper mainstream school in
Hornchurch as a last choice, as our LEA told us. By then, I was more concerned for Sarah's happiness
so I went along with their decision, which would mean having Sarah at home everyday and keeping an
eye on her progress in mainstream education - which was totally against my principles to be taught
in a true Deaf educational setting.
Before long, I began to notice the change in Sarah - at first we put it down to adolescence, a
typical teenage growing up - but I soon saw the different side of Sarah, withdrawn and unhappy. I
wasn't having any of that to happen to any of my children so with my patience and determination, I
was able to eventually get through to Sarah's innermost troubles - and get her to open up to me. My
fears were confirmed - the root of her problems was due to loneliness and rejection at the hearing
school, despite having a 'Hearing impaired' unit and only 6 Deaf friends to content with during
breaktimes - but where were the proper deaf teaching support, interacting with a deaf class, deaf
awareness??! One of the other problems was being bullied by the hearing pupils, which the school
failed to address. Communicators often took on the 'teaching roles' that I disagreed with.
Sarah was self-harming herself several times by then. That started the 5-month dispute between
myself and the LEA in which I kept Sarah at home for her own safety and making my staunch to have
Sarah transferred to a school for the Deaf as soon as possible. The LEA caved in after the statement
panel meeting in April 2001 and by June 2001, Sarah went to Ovingdean Hall School in Brighton,
Sussex. It wasn't a good start to begin with but with the brilliant support from Mrs Bown, the
school's Deputy Principal, she gave Sarah 110 per cent and soon we began to see the sweet old Sarah
personality resurfacing - with the help of once-a-week counselling sessions she'd had for a year.
I will always be grateful to Mrs Bown for her paramount faith in Sarah and will never ever forget
her. Sarah left Ovingdean in Spring 2003, with only one English GCSE grade C to her name. I told
Sarah that it didn't matter anymore, referring to her educational qualifications, as she had the
rest of her life to prove herself by achieving far bigger things as she went along.
By summer 2003, football changed her life - for the better! Sarah joined Fulham Deaf Ladies football
team and in November 2003, she came home with the good news! She was told that she was offered to
take part in the selection process for the Great Britain Deaf Ladies Football squad and
partipicating in the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia. We were so excited for Sarah -
but....the only one regret I have now is never have been able to watch her play for Fulham. Apart
from watching her play for Great Britain of course, it was too big an opportunity to miss!
In March 2004, Sarah got a letter from Sharon Hirshman, the then GB manager, offering Sarah a place
with GB Deaf Ladies team who'd already won a place in the Deaflympics for the following winter! That
was fantastic news! The best news ever to happen to Sarah - come to think of it now, in her short
life. All the family were soooo proud of her!
Come December 26th 2004, we all flew out to Melbourne Australia - me, Andrew, Victoria, Adam and
Connor met up with Sarah and the whole of the GB mens and womens squads on the connecting flights
from Dubai/Singapore/Melbourne at 2am in the morning! Going to Australia was well worth every penny.
Sometimes in life, you follow your instincts and go for it. That's exactly what I did for my family
and for Sarah - just simply took out a loan to pay for the holiday of a lifetime and to give our
wholehearted support for Sarah. Life is too short, which is exactly what has happened to my
beautiful daughter - sadly.
More to follow.
Songs at Sarah's Funeral 28th Sept 2006 - chosen by Victoria Davies and Lee Smith
SONG NO 1
It’s Not That Easy, by Lemar -
Was it me? Was it you?
Was it all the little things that I didn’t do?
Trying to move on, but I can’t
No I can’t imagine being someone else’s man
Chorus
Girl I’ve tried and tried a million times
To get you off my mind
It’s not that easy, it’s not that easy
Don’t you know how hard it is for me
To smile and say goodbye
It’s not that easy, no it’s not that easy
It’s not over, not for me,
You said have so much faith and I still believe
You’re my weakness, you’re my strength
And one without the other just don’t make no sense
Girl I’ve tried and tried a million times
To get you off my mind
It’s not that easy, it’s not that easy
Don’t you know how hard it is for me
To smile and say goodbye
It’s not that easy, no it’s not that easy
It’s not as easy for me as it is for you
Let me talk about it
It’s not that easy
Listen-
What am I meant to do without your love, your love?
What am I meant to do without your love?
Oh what am I meant to do without your love, your love?
What am I meant to do without your love?
Girl I’ve tried and tried a million times
To get you off my mind
It’s not that easy, it’s not that easy
Don’t you know how hard it is for me
To smile and say goodbye
It’s not that easy, it’s not that easy
What am I meant to do without your love, your love? (What am I… baby?)
What am I meant to do without your love? (When I wake up in the morning and you’re not here?)
Oh what am I meant to do without your love, your love?
What am I meant to do without your love?
Don’t you know how hard it is for me to smile and say goodbye,
Its not that easy….
Its not that easy
SONG NO 2
My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion -
Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on
Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're gone
Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold you
In my life we'll always go on
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you opened the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
You're here, there's nothing I fear
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
SONG NO 3
Anytime You Need A Friend, Mariah Carey
If you're lonely
And need a friend
And troubles seem like
They never end
Just remember to keep the faith
And love will be there to light the way
Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright
When the shadows are closing in
And your spirit diminishing
Just remember you're not alone
And love will be there
To guide you home
Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright
If you just believe in me
I will love you endlessly
Take my hand
Take me into your heart
I'll be there forever baby
I won't let go
I'll never let go
Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
It's alright
It's alright
ohhh memories!
Sarah,
I am gona try and keep tis short and sweet for you darling, we have had so much fun 2geta didnt we?!
your not forgetton by me and will never be. I am glad i have taught you alot of things - likewise darling!!...you and i know we were special and we met for a reason.
Your was soo beautiful, i mean truly! i admitted 2 everyone da honest feelings of my at your funeral! :-) finally admitting da real of me eh?! you have made me realised alot of stuffs (wohoo!) yes i actually did listened to you!
our fishes are missing you very much - haha we called them kav and sarah!! i will keep them forever if i can (as long i dnt overfeed them!)
Your so amazing, no one will ever forget you. We are missing a great girl here, things are not da same. I am so glad we met, even we have known each other for like 11 months but still.... wow!!!! felt like we have knew each other for ages! remember da people around us were getting annoyed with us picking on each other and arguing!!! we jus love to row dont we?! now i dnt have any1 to row with :-( I have to admit you was good at it!!!! haha
Thank you for taking me to blackpool!, god i had an amazing time with you there! will keep those memories 4ever!
I love you very much and will always. Pls enjoy yourself with other angels (i wonder if river phinoex is up there 2?!) hes gorgerous!...i will c you one day and we shall catch up loads loads! I know your watching over me in meanwhile - thanks darls! mwah xxxxx
Dearest Sarah
I still cant believe that this has happened to such a nice girl. Sarah always was polite to me and never had cross words with me and I have never seen Sarah in trouble with friends. we last saw each other in scotland last August and she thoroughly enjoyed herself with her great mates like Vicki and Lee.
I sincerely hope you rest in peace. Love U from Keith xx
Sarah Ann Davies
Sarah, there’s a lot I could say about you but im just going to keep this short..
You were one of the people who never judged, make sure everyone was happy, always think about other people not yourself and u stood up for people no matter what and you were loved by everyone without doubt, you did me proud big time no matter how annoyed I got with you sometimes but u fought yourself and knew what u were doing… and I’m glad I have met you and call you one of my best mate that, you stood up for me without doubt, never judged me for who I was and no matter who I was.. you helped me all the way through without fail from the day I started Ovingdean as you waited for me when everyone went to class to see if I was ok and safe, plus I would never forget them lessons we had together, they are unforgettable for sure baby but you made that first day a brilliant memory of us, we clicked on and laughed so much that we cried lol!
Ever since then, look at us we were still remain friends and close as always and still the same, u brought me out to the places and meet new mates and show me what life is really about, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be the same person! You weren’t just a great best mate, u were my drink buddy for sure, them nights we have had and I will never ever forget them, especially those nights in Brighton, Blackpool and everywhere we go. I am sure missing those nights and I will always always treasure the memories and keep them in my heart forever as no one can ever replace you Sarah.
You have achieved so much in your life, and im as proud of you as I knew that what u wanted in life.
Sarah, I just want to say I’m missing you tons and tons, not just my drinking buddy but a great mate who always smiles everywhere we go and make sure we all had a laugh and everything, nothing is ever the same again but we are sure partying hard for you darling.
I promise you I will look after everyone who’s important to you also try help everyone else out as much as I can for you baby, look after yourself and behave yourself with them angels up there :-) and look after all of us until we all meet again…
Love you darling and will never forget you!
Mwah xxxxxxxxxxx
Sarah Ann Davies - 1 in a million
There's so much I could say about Sarah - I could literally go on and on but I'll try and keep this short and sweet.
I've known Sarah for five years now, and from the moment I first met her, I thought she was an amazing girl. So vibrant, full of life, cheerful, funny, caring and of course, very cheeky! A great combination to have, eh? She has so many great qualities and truly is 1 in a million - it's rare to know someone as special as Sarah and I'm so glad and proud to have known her. I have so many great memories of us that will always be treasured and never forgotten - mad nights out on freewalks in Brighton after school, seeing Sarah at the deaf events partying hard, amongst so many more from school. This Summer, we got so much closer and saw loads more of each other, that I considered her one of my best friends - she helped me through problems I had and never failed to make me smile - Sarah has a knack of really making you feel special.
Sarah, I'm missing you loads, tons and tons - I miss your cheeky smile, I miss your mad antics, I miss our chats, and I miss our mad nights out! Not a day goes past that I don't think of you. I love you loads, and always will - you were a true angel and now you're with all the other angels, have fun playing and causing mischief up there! I'll be seeing you again one day.
Lots of love, Mark xxxxx
Smiles Always
Sarah, she was a wonderful, full of life, she made everyone laughs, always smiles never stops.
Everytime when she came around our place, into my living room, she smiled wide, made our hearts melt and very relaxing, she loved to talk about anythings and gossips, heehee!
so about sarah and lee smith, they were so like twins, we remembered they played fight, like catfight sometime dogfight, made us laughing. We all sometime treated ourselves like kids!
Don't worry, sarah, we will keep look out each other always, no matter what, and of course we will look after lee smith for you.
sadly missed you and your smiles forever :-)
lot of loves from Ross and Kelly xxxxxx
Sarah Ann Davies
What can I say that would sum up the very short 15 years we had together?
Definitely not long enough to do all the plans that we made. But all that dreaming won’t be wasted because as the Bryan Adams’ song says, “Everything I do, I’ll do it for you? and so everything that I will do, I will do it for you.
God, the amount of laughter and tears that we shared and the amount of troubles that we got into, or should I say, you led to astray to? Ahaha!
Remember, me and you in the back of the police van when you got caught stealing Arsenal socks in Debenhams! You worrying how your mum would react and me laughing my head off at you! Silly and treasured memories that will stay in my heart forever.
I lost half of me when you went that night, but I’m comforted by the memory of you saying that you wanted me to be with you when you go and I’m eternally grateful I was. Through all the troubles and problems that arose through the years, I only hope I was a good enough friend for you.
I need you here my Sarah….Your gorgeous smell, your gentle touch, that wonderful Sarah Ann Davies voice, your freckles (especially the one on your nose!) your hair and most of all, your beautiful smile. I will miss everything about you so much, but don’t worry, they will forever remain in my heart.
I could go on forever talking about you, but think a few other people have a few words to say to you too!
I’m so proud of you Sarah Ann Davies, you will live on through all of us.
Try not to make too much trouble up there, the angels won’t be able to handle ya! Please look after me and the family, and please wait for me because I can’t wait until the day I see you again….Go with the Angels and now you can finally sleep at peace.
I love you, my best friend, soul mate and sister. Yours forever….
Lee XxX
Sarah
Never has there been a girl like Sarah,
Whose smile was like a radiating light.
A heart of gold she posessed,
And one that she gave out to everyone she met.
For every euphoric moments she had,
There were dispiriting moments she went through.
But she had a resolute and an unshakeable faith,
That always remained deep within her and saw her through.
There is not a soul that she has met,
That hasn't been touched by her.
She is still here,
She lives on in our memories and our heart.
She lived her life to the full,
And she did it her way.
Sarah Ann Davies
She grew up to be beautiful like her mother,
Her smile gives us a warmth,
She's always smiling and laughing with us.
We would do anything to have her back,
But we have to accept,
that she is gone.
In our hearts she'll always be with us,
Always and forever.
She's loved by her mother, family, best friends and everyone,
We won't forget her.
Her mother reminds us that she is still here,
because she looks like her mother.
We'll have to work together,
Crying around the lake,
Sharre our love for Sarah,
Sharing our memories.
She will always be looking down on us.
She'll laugh at us if we do something stupid.
Sw wants us to be smiling just for us,
Sharing the laughter with her.
She's up in the sky with angels,
Who will always look after her for us,
We will look after her mother.
She looks like an angel and always will.
Diane, Andrew, Victoria, Adam, Connor, Jay & family
We would like to say a short comment about Sarah
As she was a wonderful sporty gir,l always into football, full of life, and a wild girl always having fun. A bit like her old mum [ginger] lol lol. Mark will miss her as most of time we talk about her football and how she got on and give her tip etc, so Ii will have to wait a bit longer before I go up and meet her one day to do some catching up on how her team Arsenal are getting on with their football, and give her more tip and advice when she play football for her team up in heaven. Beth and Mark promise Sarah that we will look after her family in future and help each other. See you one day love you Sarah xxxxx and god bless you and love you all Davies family lots of love Mark, Beth, Charlotte, Laura, and of course Robert xxxxxxx
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