Crash claims life of a student who stayed close to her friends (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Crash claims life of a student who stayed close to her friends

THE parents of a 21-year-old woman who died in a collision on the Gretton Road near Winchcombe have paid tribute to their daughter.

The crash happened at 7.40pm on Monday when Gemma van Egmond's Peugeot 206 was in collision with a Toyota Landcruiser driven by a 47-year-old woman, who escaped injury.

Police and paramedics were called but Gemma (pictured) was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gemma, of Castle Street, Winchcombe, was born in High Wycombe and a year later she and her parents Jan and Gill moved to Winchcombe.

She attended St. Edward's School in Cheltenham before completing a degree in English Literature at Exeter University last summer. In September she began a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of the West of England in Bristol.

A statement released by her parents said: "Gemma was a very outgoing and fun-loving person who made friends easily.

"She was extremely caring and kept in touch with friends very well, remaining close with friends from her childhood, even if they had moved to different parts of the country.

"She wanted to take everything out of life that she could, was always planning ahead and was looking forward to a trip she was planning with friends to Barcelona after the exams she was due to take this month.

"Gemma had great ambition and determination. Having already worked part-time in marketing, she had many ideas on what she could and would do in the future.

"The most important thing to Gemma was her family life and her many friends covering the length and breadth of the country."

A celebration service for Gemma's life will be held at Cambray Baptist Church in Cheltenham, on Friday January 14 at noon.