5 days ago
Tributes paid to 'kind and caring' 13-year old Maddi
Tributes have poured in for an 'intelligent, clever, beautiful, very funny' Taunton girl who died suddenly weeks after turning 13.
Around 300 people celebrated Maddi Bray's life at her funeral at Taunton Deane Crematorium on Tuesday (June 17).
Guard of honour from her Gang Show colleagues (Image: Simon Helliar-Moor, Crescent Funeral Services)
Two police outriders guide the funeral procession (Image: Simon Helliar-Moore, Crescent Funeral Services)
She leaves her mother Lora, stepfather Sam, and seven-year-old sister Imogen. Also her grandparents Martin and Heather.
Sam said: 'Maddi would have been disappointed to miss the funeral and be sad not to see her piece in the County Gazette.
Maddi Bray (Image: Family of Maddi Bray)
'I've been part of her world since she was four.
'She was intelligent, clever, beautiful, very funny, determined and always wanted to impress.
'She was very talented in lots of fields. Her school work looked like being a success, she loved drama, music and singing and was a very good swimmer.'
Maddi attended Stoke St Gregory and Thurlbear Primary Schools, before moving to Bishop Fox's.
She lived nearby off South Road and was looking forward to a Disney school trip in July.
She was a Girl Guide and enjoyed performing in the annual Gang Show variety entertainment.
Sam added: 'She was kind and caring and would go out of her way in the Guides to be the one to take anyone who had just joined under her wing.
'It's been a huge shock. It's very sad and we're now trying to negotiate the new new.
'It's something we just didn't expect.'
Bishop Fox's headteacher Kerry Tonkin said the school community was 'shocked and extremely sad' and described Maddi as hard-working and making 'great academic progress' with a proud 100 per cent attendance record.
Ms Tonkin added: 'Performing arts is where Maddi found her passion.
'She was actively involved with drama, both in school and as part of Somerset Youth Theatre.
'Maddi also loved music. She regularly performed in our school concerts, was a vocalist in our school rock band and was in both our school choir and Year 8 choir.
'Maddi had many friends in school; she had a kind heart and a great sense of humour.
'She was proudly one of us and she will be missed by so many Bishop Fox's staff and students.'
The school plans in time to hold a formal tribute to celebrate Maddi's 'fantastic life'.
Following Maddi's death at home on May 25, friends set up a fundraiser on to support her family that has so far raised almost £4,000.
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