HEARTFELT tributes have poured in following the tragic death of

nine-year-old Stephanie Hammacott.

Her uncle, Stephen Griffey described her as a happy, lively

girl who was a keen Brownie and had just started taking riding

lessons.

Stephen, 42, said his sister Carol – Stephanie’s mum – her tyre

fitter husband Paul, and her other daughters Terri-Ann, 15, and

Toni-Marie, 11, were being comforted by their family.

Builder Stephen said: “The whole family is gobsmacked by what

has happened.

“Steph was here on Saturday talking about what a good Christmas

they had all had and how she had been playing with the Wii she

was given.

“I cannot believe this has happened. It is the sort of thing

you hear about happening to other people on the news.

“She was in the Brownies and was a lovely bubbly girl, and she

and her family always looked after each other and made a point

of spending every Sunday together as a family.

“She did a lot of after school clubs and had just started

riding and taking an interest in horses.”

Stephanie was a Brownie at 2nd Eggbuckland pack where Brown Owl

and District Commissioner Lyndsay Pankhurst remembers her as

“always happy and smiling”.

She said: “She would come bouncing into Brownies every week

bursting with enthusiasm.

“We could always rely on her to look after any new girls.”

Lyndsay said: “They are such a fantastic family. Carol is my

assistant at the pack.

“Both Stephanie’s sisters were at Rainbows and Brownies so

they’ve been with us for quite a while.

“Carol and I took the pack away on a holiday and all her family

came along – they’ve all been connected with Guiding.

“Stephanie would take some of the younger girls under her wing

and look after them – she just made friends very easily.

“She was the cheeky one of the three and would really make us

all laugh.”

Lyndsay said she was contacted by Carol following the tragic

incident.

Clearly distraught, Lyndsay said: “We’ve all been very, very

shocked about what’s happened.

“It’s such an terrible thing to happen to such a wonderful

family.

“We’ve been fielding calls and making calls to parents of our

Brownies, letting them know what’s happened before the girls

read about it or see it on the news.

“We are meant to have our pack meeting tonight and it will be

very hard for everyone. So many of the children and parents

were close to Stephanie and her family.”

Mark Lees, headteacher at Stephanie’s school, Southway Primary,

said: “Stephanie was a popular and caring pupil of Southway

Primary School, who brightened up the lives of children and

adults alike with her loving personality.

“We will miss her terribly and the school extends its sincerest

condolences to her family at this time.”

The school also produced a letter for parents yesterday,

explaining that staff at the school “handled the situation as

sensitively as we can”.

The children were informed of the tragedy by the school during

the morning, and counsellors from the Education Psychology

Services were on hand to help, and will continue to be

available to pupils, parents and staff.

A city council spokeswoman said: “The council wishes to express

its deepest sympathy to the family of the young girl who died

in this tragic incident.

“Obviously the effects of this terrible tragedy will be far

reaching and deeply felt by the wider community of Southway for

a long time to come.

“As the local authority we will do everything in our power to

help and support all those affected, including local residents

and the school community.”

Police commander Supt Andy Bickley said: “Our sincere

condolences and sympathy go out to Stephanie’s family and

friends at this time.

“This is a tragedy that will be keenly felt by the whole

community. We hope everyone will come together to support her

family.

“We will be supporting Stephanie’s family and we have appointed

dedicated family liaison officers to look after their ongoing

welfare.”

Scores of tributes have flooded into The Herald’s website, with

many who knew Stephanie and her family paying their respects.

Julie Taylor wrote: “My twin girls know and love Steph from

Eggbuckland brownies.

“Such a lovely little girl with a big heart whose loss will

leave a huge void in her family’s and friends lives. May the

angels look after this special girl. My heart goes out to her

family. God bless.”

Two other school friends – Megan and Cody – wrote: “We’re

really sorry this happened to such a sweet girl. We knew her

from Southway Primary School. Bless her. Love you loads x R.I.P

x.”