Warm tributes have been paid to a talented student after she died suddenly.
Harriet Philo Powell, 18, from Bulmer, near Sudbury, passed away on February 25, with her mum saying yesterday her daughter was “beautiful inside and out”.
“She would always help people and was a trained first aider,” said Ruth Philo. “If anyone fell over anywhere she was the first one to go and help them. She had a very bubbly personality.”
Harriet, known as Hattie, worked weekend shifts at the Waitrose store in Station Road, Sudbury. Her department manager Richard Upton said all the staff’s thoughts were with her friends and family.
“Harriet was always smiling which customers loved. She was very bubbly and will be greatly missed,” he said.
The teenager went to Hedingham School before moving on to study A-levels at Colchester Sixth Form College.
Her school said she had been a delightful student who was “creative and intelligent”, gaining 11 GCSE passes including A* grades for art and textiles. She had planned to study a Foundation degree in art at Oxford Brookes University.
Mrs Philo added sixth form students had been tying flowers to a fence at the Colchester college in memory of Hattie, who had been studying A-levels in art, English and art history.
“She would light up a room and was beautiful inside and out,” she said.
A regular at the Latitude Festival, Hattie had also been sailing since the age of eight, including with the Eastern Region branch of the Royal Yachting Association and had sailed in national competitions.
Since her early teens, Hattie had been visiting Sudbury guitar teacher Robbie Gladwell, who said she had “a real love for music and art”.
“Harriet was a shy, passionate and creative young lady with a beautifully pure voice that could move you to tears,” he said, adding:
“She was a keen sportswoman, dancer and singer. She had everything to live for. It’s such a tragedy this happened.
“I know people say these sorts of things after someone has died but she hadn’t had time to be anything other than nice.
“She truly was a lovely girl and will be sorely missed.”
Hattie had been working with Mr Gladwell and his other pupils on a musical project for the Quay Theatre, in Sudbury, that takes place this month.
They are raising money for local breast cancer charities and Mr Gladwell and Hattie had been intending to perform Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven together at the Quay.
“Harriet we shall miss you dreadfully,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “Your wonderful smile, your talent and positivity touched everyone you came in contact with. If there is a stairway to heaven, you shall surely find it...”
Hattie also leaves behind older brother Joseph, 20, and dad Gordon Powell. Her family has asked any donations to be made to the Samaritans. A fundraising page has been set up at www.justgiving.com/HarrietPhiloPowell
For tickets to the concerts on March 17, 18 and 19, visit www.quaysudbury.com
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