Tributes paid to tragic teenager

Friday 16th January 2009, 11:30AM GMT.

Friends have paid tribute to a 15-year-old Shrewsbury schoolgirl found hanged at her “special place”.

The teenager, named on tributes as Jessica Thomas, was found by a walker near a tree off Kingsland Road on Wednesday morning.

Tributes were left where she was found describing her as an “angel” and using the words of the Leanne Rimes song Please Remember to express their feelings.

“I’ll always think of your smile and be happy for the time I had you with me, though we go our separate ways I won’t forget the memories we’ve made,” they wrote.

Bunches of flowers had been tied to the tree.

One of Jessica’s friends had drawn a picture of the teenager which had been placed at the bottom of the tree next to two Starbucks mugs and a small teddy bear.

Jessica, who would have celebrated her 16th birthday next month, was a pupil at Priory School in Longden Road. Students were told of her death yesterday.

Headteacher Candy Garbett said the school would be providing support for pupils and staff. 

She said: “Our whole school community is still reeling from the news of the tragic death of Jess.”

Maria Hawkaluk, spokeswoman for West Mercia Police, said formal identification was expected to take place today. An inquest is expected to open next week.

 


  1. 1
    amzey and stacey

    R.I.P babe your gunaa be missed by everonee we all love youu x

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  2. 2
    Smoo

    A truly tragic event, one of the very few people that was lovely in all accounts, farewell darling, you will be greatly missed by all that knew you
    xxxxxxxxx

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  3. 3
    Bexx

    Jess,everyone is missing you so much.But you’re safe now.All my love x

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  4. 4
    alistair,james,izzi

    R.I.P jess gone bt neva forgotten by us all lyl xxx

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  5. 5
    Big James :)

    you meant the world to so many people Jess. town wont be the same without you. no one to make everybody smile. if anybody had to go, i wish it wasn’t you because who’s gonna make us laugh now? wherever you are now, i hope that you are more than happy and you left all your stresses and strains behind. i love you so much, and always will xxxxx

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  6. 6
    james william reese

    jess y i love u loads and im gunna miss u i dont no wat to do mi head is so messed up n i cant wait to see u again

    love u loads babe

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Anon

    I think Bexx says it all.Such a tragedy but you are safe now!

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  8. 8
    Anon

    The Rose Beyond the Wall

    Near shady wall a rose once grew,
    Budded and blossomed in God’s free light,
    Watered and fed by morning dew,
    Shedding its sweetness day and night.

    As it grew and blossomed fair and tall,
    Slowly rising to loftier height,
    It came to a crevice in the wall
    Through which there shone a beam of light.

    Onward it crept with added strength
    With never a thought of fear or pride,
    It followed the light through the crevice’s length
    And unfolded itself on the other side.

    The light, the dew, the broadening view
    Were found the same as they were before,
    And it lost itself in beauties new,
    Breathing its fragrance more and more.

    Shall claim of death cause us to grieve
    And make our courage faint and fall?
    Nay! Let us faith and hope receive—
    The rose still grows beyond the wall,

    Scattering fragrance far and wide
    Just as it did in days of yore,
    Just as it did on the other side,
    Just as it will forevermore.
    We will miss you Jess xxx

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  9. 9
    Hayley

    Jessica babe,
    you are going to be missed by so many its un-true, through that amazing smile you showed to everyone there was something holding you back, we all love you so much and i hope your in a happier place and i hope all your bad thoughts have gone away. Gone but NEVER forgotten baby. rest in peace my sweetheart. Love you so much xxxxxx

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Zoe Hawkes

    We all miss you more than words can explain and I wish you knew how many people you made an impact on and how many tears have fallen for you.
    From the day I met you, you put a smile on my face every time I talked to you. Or even when you were telling me one of your stories about what you had got up at the weekend. You were a such an amazing girl. (:
    I just wish that you could see what we’ve done for you at school, our gift to you. It’s beautiful and you would have loved the greebo flowers that Polly left for you. (:
    You were an absolutely amazing girl and I’m going to miss you like hell. We’re going to gathered together at dream fields yesterday and we celebrated your life and we all talked about the amazing memories we have with you.

    I love you Jess Thomas, I will never forget you. Never
    xxxxx ♥

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  11. 11
    alisha

    jess u were possibly one of the lovliest girls id ever met, you were such a nice person 2 everyone. you will be missed so much by everyone. were all sad u felt u had to go that way but at least ur in a better place now.

    rip my darlin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  12. 12
    Sian

    RIP jess we’ll miss you so much
    xxx

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  13. 13
    Jacob Tiernan

    Rest in Blissful Peace, sweetheart.

    Meet you up there, and make sure you save me a bit on a ciggy when I see you again.

    You’ll always be in my thoughts.

    I know my dad will take care of you up there.

    Love you, and miss you always.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    Nickii,, ):

    R.I.P jessica babez,,
    gonna miss yhew dearly,,
    shame ii didnt get too say a proper good bye,,but im sure well be up there with yhew soon,,
    yhur gonna be daerly mised at cadets bbbe,,
    Youl be daerly missed,,
    always in our thorghts and prayers,,
    Love Yhuu And Miss Yhuu Allways,,
    Lots Of Love,,,,xxxxxxxxxx

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    amy lawley

    .You and I will meet again
    When we’re least expecting it
    One day in some far off place
    I will recognize your face
    I won’t say goodbye my friend
    For you and I will meet again

    I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next

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  16. 16
    maz, jc, beaver

    R.I.P jess miss u millions hope ur happier now u have touched alot of peoples hearts just cant belieave ur gone lyl hun xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Save us a gd seat up thier plz xxxxxxxxxxx lym
    xxxxxxxxxx c u soon bbe

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  17. 17
    jimi reese

    the funeral is this saturday 12 at allsaints church brolely

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  18. 18
    amy lawley

    hyahh
    was that brolely, or brosley.

    luv you jessii
    ma darlin

    miss you always hope you liked my poems for you!!
    xxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    anon

    so so tragic. what a waste of a life. May you rest in peace you little angel.god is great,

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    Anon

    I only met you once, but you seemed a lovely 15 year old, so so young, and I can tell you meant the world to Polly. Rest in peace sweetheart x

    Report abuse



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