Family back appeal to help fill void after tragedy

THE FAMILY of a former Guide who died after her car was swept away in a swollen river are attempting to "fill the void" with a collection at her funeral for the Shuttle/Times and News' Operation Covert Scout appeal.

Any cash pledged to our £80,000 appeal to rebuild a fire-ravaged Bewdley Scout centre would be a fitting tribute to 36-year-old Suzanne Smith, said her brother Richard.

Suzanne, a company director from Hawkbatch near Bewdley, died after her Land Rover was swept away as she attempted to cross a ford on the River Rea at Cleobury Mortimer early on Sunday.

It is normally a shallow crossing but had been turned into a torrent by heavy rain.

Mr Smith said: "She has been lost to the world now. It is a real waste and we feel it would be a good way of putting something back in to fill the void.

"Operation Covert is a great campaign and the centre is a great facility and needs replacing. Instead of spending money on flowers we are asking people to consider doing something like this because Operation Covert is the most worthy cause at the moment."

The appeal is aiming to rebuild the Scout centre at Rhydd Covert campsite near Bewdley, used by Suzanne during her childhood as a Brownie and Guide.

A statement from the family said the death was a "tragedy" and Suzanne would be "sadly missed".

She was described as a "happy, fun-loving girl who had a desire to travel" and was keen on sport, especially netball.

Suzanne, who was single and lived alone, was born in Kidderminster and graduated from Wolverhampton Law School. She worked as a solicitor in Somerset until 1992 when she left to travel the world.

Most recently, she ran an event management company with her brother. She also had another brother, Chris.

She had managed the Horse and Jockey pub at Far Forest with Mr Smith from 1999 to 2003.

Her death comes almost a year after the pub's head chef, Andrew Pate, 26, was killed in a road accident.

Landlord Sean Davies said: "She was incredibly popular with everyone. She was only sitting here two to three weeks ago. It's just so, so sad.

"It was devastating in the pub when it happened. The whole lot of them were just so upset - you could tell that she'd had a good effect on their lives."

Suzanne's silver Freelander Serengeti was found by a canoeist at about 10.30am on Sunday more than a quarter-of-a-mile downstream from the ford in a lane at Neen Savage near Cleobury Mortimer.

Police estimate she had tried to cross the ford between 1.15am and 10.45am on Sunday.

She was pronounced dead at the scene before being taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

An inquest was opened at Ludlow and adjourned until March 8.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Shropshire Police on 08457 444888.