| Location | Romford |
| Age | 19 years |
| Cause of Death | Road Traffic Collision |
| Date of Birth | 10/12/1986 |
| Date of Death | 17/09/2006 |
| Visitors | 21,318 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.
How I know her … this is my story about Sarah …
In 1991 I met Sarah Davies at Romford Deaf Club when she was 4 and half years old, she was very active girl in the club. As I was a member of the committee I told her to slow down and be careful. I asked Sarah ‘Where your mum?’ She held my hand to show me her mum. Now since I’ve known her, I am Sarah’s mum’s Best friend. Sarah was 7 years old and she called me “Auntie?. I was so proud and I have always liked it. We have great memories together … recently we went to a nightclub together - 131 at Romford, and sometimes we met up at Romford for a little shopping and have lunch.
I lived with the Davies’ family for five years from 1993 until 1998 .. I really enjoyed living with them and a very good experience with the Deaf family and it was lovely together. I really enjoyed it with Sarah and Victoria, its too many laughs to remember. They came into my room one late night as I was sleeping, the little two devil girls - guess what they did to me … put foam and toothpaste on my face and all over my head was covered with foams. I woke up and was so shocked but it was so funny… Sarah knew that I have a sense of humour. I still do and carry all the times in my past 5 years. We had super holidays together to many places. Sarah is very special to me cos I was very close to her and her sister Victoria. When I left home for a new flat, I was very emotional but had really good memories, and still kept in touch and see them very often.
I remember when Sarah was 11 years old she wanted to play football and join a club because I was playing for Watford for years. I told her “you will one day?, and now she was playing for Fulham and GB.
I went to Aussie 2 years ago as Sarah was playing for GB. I was so proud of her achievements and bronze medal. It was a good experience for me to watch her in every single match.
Sarah is very caring as she never put herself first. Sarah always put her friends and family first before she did anything for herself.
Sarah is full of life. Charming, heart of gold, lovely cute smile and very proud woman.
I will never forget her for the rest of my life and I miss Sarah.
Sarah Davies
I have known Sarah since we were little at primary school, but lost touch when we went to different secondary school until she changed back to my school. We became very close friends since, Sarah changed my life by helping me to be a confident person because I was very shy and quiet at school. She taught me many things by getting me involved with the deaf community, events and the culture, Without her, I wouldnt be who I am now and I have her to thank for that.
She's was a very strong minded, laid back, confident and happy person with a heart of gold because she loved to help people especially her good friends because friendship and family's very important to her, no matter what.
She arranged my 18th surprise party for me, I was so touched and she told me she did the surprise party for me because she loved me, and that is one of the many reasons I became a good friend to her and she was a good friend to me as well. It is very rare to find kindness in a person like Sarah. She's so thoughtful and trustworthy.
I am so glad I met Sarah and she was part of my life because she was a best friend to me and I couldn't ask for more. We have so many good memories that I will keep with me for the rest of my life, like our special friendship, school, blackpool, clubbing, shopping and several serious talks and laughs.
I know I will miss her very much bu I will never forget her, ever. I thank Sarah for our amazing frienship that nobody or nothing could compare to and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
I love you, Sarah. Be happy where you are now with the angels.
I will see you again later, and you're my best friend forever and forever . God bless. X
Sarah
A 18 yrs old girl walked into my life last winter when it was very cold
Suddenly I felt the warmth
The world outside carrierd on and me not taking care
Couldnt stop thinking how beautiful she was
For next 10 months, we have been there for each other, we were never far away apart in our minds.
Sarah was an amazing girl that took everything in stride and did what she wanted to do.
I was in an awe of Sarah because she was such a tough girl who knew what she was doing.
Sarah was my hero, she didnt long to care or to judge people but to spend time with them. I admired her for that, as Sarah have had the rareiest quality that not many people do have.
Sarah was so so beautiful and i remembered i repeated it over 1,000 times and at sum point she did wanted me 2 shut up but how could i?! Sarah was a truly beautiful girl.
I was amazed at sarah as she has travelled alot in her time as well with me at Germany, Brussels, Blackpool, brighton, southend,Valentine day,football matches,clubbings, pubs, families etc we have had such a laugh. When i look back, there were some naughty things we got up to but i am glad we did it together!! there were no beta girl than sarah to spend time with.
I thank sarah for letting me spend those times with her and i will always keep it in my heart.
Doofus (that was sarah's nickname) and bascially it was a joke to wind her up. But of course she was not a doofus at all!..Though she did have her bimbo moments!! :-)
Always had the bufferflies whenever i saw Sarah, even that night i thought how beautiful she was and she was smiling a lot so i left her to be happy. Now the bufferflies will remain there whenever i think of Sarah forever.
Sarah,
I love you and i will not forget the connection we both had.
See you one day darling xxxxx
Well, what can I say about Sarah Ann Davies!?
I‘ll keep this short, as you know I can go on and on about her.
Sarah Ann Davis was such a fantastic person in my life, and I am so
privileged to have known her. Not only that she's my best friend but she was
like a sister to me. I am going to miss her so much because she was the one
who I could confide in and she just understood. There’ll be times when I
will break down and cry. I am going to try my hardest not to because I am
going to be strong for her, well not just for her, but for lee and of course
Sarah’s family as I know that’s what she would want.
I remember being younger and looking up to her, always thinking she would be
a good friend of mine one day, and I was right! Sarah became not just my
best friend but soul mate and sister. She was the one always trying to fit
me in, even when everyone was saying I was an annoying little girl. She
always had me involved, thanks to her, I have loads of wonderful friends;
some I know will be for life. But Sarah is irreplaceable.
Once again she wasn’t just my best friend, she was my idol- I know most of
you must think this sounds mad- picking her, but it’s true! For years, she
guided me through life. We were practically identical; we went through the
same things when we were young, experiencing adult life at a younger age.
She always led me down the right path, telling me not to take drugs, go to
college, and work my pants off. And I did do it…well most of it!
Now, I know, and am sure you all know that because she was such a special
person, she will be in a safe place. The most wonderful place! I hope sarahs
be with the angels watching over me and you all.
You will be truly missed by all of us especially me.
Love ya, you galoot!
Vic’s Words for Sarah
Sis- what can I say? You’re the best little sis a girl could ask for.
We’ve always been there for each other and you know I’ve always thought the world of you, and I always will.
When we were younger we used to have terrible fights- the usual was when we got into headlocks and grabbed each others hair! We were both so stubborn, that neither of us would be the first to give in so we ended up staying locked in the same position for hours. Mum and dad eventually gave up trying to break us up (after 100’s of failed attempts!!) and would leave us fighting in front of them in the living room, like a live wrestling match. I never let on but I was secretly scared of you in a fight ‘cos you didn’t half wallop me one! Remember when you whipped me with the garden hose ‘cos I wound you up?! I had a red mark for days!
Even though we fought terribly, we still cared an awful lot for each other. We were just both too stubborn! But once you went to boarding school the fighting completely stopped- it was weird. Must’ve been because we both missed each other so much.
From then, we’ve always been typical close sisters; shared clothes- or rather you nicked my clothes- PLUS you always worked out where I hid my bedroom key to try and keep you out (how did you do that?!). You always asked for advice on what to wear…I never really minded when you wanted me to choose your whole outfit when you were going out ‘cos you could never decide. I’d sometimes ignore you calling for me down the stairs because I knew I’d be in your room for ages trying to help you!!
We had saying for ages that we should meet up with all our friends and go out clubbing together…I’m so glad that we finally ended up bumping into each other a few weeks ago at gay night in 131. That was the funniest night out I’ve ever had and you were there.
We’ve shared secrets, confided in each other, cried together, laughed together. Sarah we will still do that. I won’t stop talking to you- promise me you’ll listen?
My reasoning for you going away is that you were far too good to walk on this Earth. So, the angels chose you to become one of them. You’re my guardian angel now, but you can carry on living through me. I will try to be more like you and live my life as interestingly as possible, not caring about what others think (but at the same time always thinking of others).
My Darling Sarah from Mummy
Words cannot express how I am feeling now and what I am going through since Sarah’s passing on, on that fateful day of Sunday 17th September – the day I will never ever forget for the rest of my life. The pain I am feeling and a very big hole in my life and cannot imagine life without Sarah from this day forward. I am going to miss her terribly.
I want to say from here how so very proud I am of Sarah for everything she had done in her short 19 years of her life. She grew up to be a very beautiful young woman with heart-melting smiles and natural freckly looks, and became not only my daughter but my best friend, sister and soul mate. We shared everything. I thank Sarah for coming into my life on at 9.40am on Wednesday 10th December 1986 when I gave birth to her at Barking Hospital. I gave Victoria a sister to play with and grow old together for when I am gone first.
We first found out that Sarah was Deaf at the age of 2 months old. After the initial upset I accepted her deafness without further question, knowing that it was for a good purpose. I knew that she was special. Both Sarah and I, over the next 19 years, became a great role-model to each other, sharing our feelings and frustrations, happiness and sadness, laughter and tears. She had taught me a lot about myself, about my Deaf identity, learning to sign and have come to understand her innermost feelings, her soul, as well as my own. I felt everything that she felt from her early age right up to now. Sarah confided in me about everything from personal to girlfriend problems. I am so proud that she shared everything with me.
Sarah always wanted a brother and was so proud of Adam when he was born in 1994, so that she could teach him to play football! Along came Connor in 1995, another brother for Sarah, so the more boys the better for her to make a little football team! She loved her home here in her ‘native’ Romford where she lived in almost her entire life since we moved from Seven Kings when she was one year old.
Not once I never ever doubted her feelings when she was going through problems between the ages of 12 and 16 - her most difficult years and flitting from one school to another due to educational and homesickness problems – she loved her family so much and felt left out when she was away at boarding schools. I only wanted what was best for Sarah, her happiness came first above the rest and tried my best for her. I would not allow her to fall into a black hole or go up the wrong path. Every time she was down, I picked her up. I instilled my strengths into Sarah tirelessly without giving up. Most importantly of all, I gave her my most unconditional love as her Mum, through thick and thin, even though she hurt me so much many times. She’s only got her life back on track in recent years. Football changed her life. The proudest moment of her life, and ours too, was being selected for the Great Britain Deaf Ladies football squad to particpate in the Melbourne 2005 Deaflympics, with her family coming too, and then bringing home the Bronze medal. She then went on to travel further in Australia, New Zealand and USA for 3 months. Sarah had achieved far more than most would have done in their lifetime.
19 years is a very long time having brought up Sarah. 19 wonderful years she gave me. 19 years of memories. 19 years of love. Millions of little things to remember Sarah. She was a fun-loving girl who lived life to the full with a great sense of humour and loved facial impersonations - always rubbed off on us and making us copy her funny ways! I suppose it’s all down to my genes that what made Sarah a carbon copy of her old mum, if you ask any of my friends! Sarah had the gift of caring for everyone else, very considerate and willing to help out to anyone in trouble! In a way now, I only wished that Sarah thought of herself on the night she died, but nevertheless she didn’t and put others’ safety first. I am so proud of her.
Little silly everyday things I will miss most about Sarah. Pinching my clothes especially bras! Lazing about on the settee watching recorded soap operas. Bringing friends home for a kip over after a night out. Me or Dad moaning at her about treating our home like a hotel. Her untidy bedroom with pile of dirty clothes scattered on the floor. Her lovely little blue VW polo sitting patiently on the front drive of the house, waiting for its owner to zoom it around. Her cat Tabby, wondering why she hasn’t been in her bed to kip with in the mornings. Making dinners for four instead of five. Less clothes washing. Chit chats. Seeing her off to work at 3.45pm. She’d only been working for Parcelforce two weeks and hasn’t even got the chance to spend all of her first month’s pay. No more. They’re all gonna hit me hardest of all not seeing her anymore, to give her hugs as she always loved the way I hugged her.
Birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries, holidays….her plans for the future, wanting 2 children of her own, seeing her little brothers grow up, her sister’s first new owned home with Russell, and many more. Can’t imagine the rest of our lives without Sarah now. It’s not fair.
Memories are all I have left of Sarah now that she was so cruelly taken from me and her beloved family and friends, but they are now the most important and wonderful memories we’ve got left that we all will always treasure for the rest of our days. That is what this service, Celebration of Sarah’s life is about, and that we all need to remember Sarah by and the most comforting thought now is that she loved us all so much, enough to stay around us in spirit and watch over us.
Sarah, I love you always and will never ever forget my darling baby until I meet you again and can’t wait to hug you eternally after. See you soon my beautiful angel.
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