Wales has an ambitious goal: to achieve one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Schools are central to this.

For many children, particularly those who do not speak Welsh at home, school is where they learn the language. But learning Welsh at school is not the same as continuing to use it after leaving. A learner acquires the language, but a speaker has the opportunities and confidence to use it beyond the classroom.

My research explores what happens when young people finish compulsory education at age 16. The evidence points to a recurring problem. Many young people appear to use Welsh less often, feel less confident speaking it, or stop identifying as Welsh speakers altogether once they leave school.

Yet, we still know little about how these changes happen, who experiences them, or why.

Welsh is taught across Wales, but pupils’ experiences differ greatly. In Welsh-medium schools, Welsh is the main language of teaching. In dual-stream schools, Welsh and English-medium streams work alongside one another. In English-medium schools, Welsh is taught as a subject.

These routes do not produce the same outcomes. Welsh-medium education can give pupils strong language skills and opportunities to use Welsh. Pupils in English-medium settings may have less contact with the language and fewer chances to speak it.

Even strong skills at school do not guarantee continued use. At 16, the structures that supported Welsh use can disappear. A young person may enter an English-dominated college, university, apprenticeship or workplace. Their friendship groups may change. They may move away from a Welsh-speaking area. English may become the easier or expected choice.

The evidence

For my study, I reviewed census figures, surveys, qualitative studies and policy reports. Together, these suggested a consistent pattern but also serious limits in what we know.

The censuses of 2001, 2011, and 2021, all recorded a lower percentage of Welsh speakers among 16 to 19-year-olds than among children aged 5 to 15. This might suggest a decline around the end of compulsory education.

But census figures cannot prove that. They compare different age groups rather than following the same people over time. Parents often answer for children under 16, while older teenagers answer for themselves. The census asks whether someone can speak Welsh, but not how often they use it, how confident they feel, or how strongly they identify as a Welsh speaker.

Research with young people suggests that reduced opportunities, lower confidence and the dominance of English in education or employment may contribute to less frequent Welsh use.

These are clues, but they only tell part of the story. They point to different reasons, without showing which matters most or how young people are affected.

From learners to speakers

This creates a problem for Welsh language policy. Wales often measures progress by counting how many people say they can speak Welsh. But ability, confidence and use are not the same thing.

A young person may have learned Welsh at school but rarely use it afterwards. They may still understand the language, but feel uncomfortable using it with others. They may value Welsh while still seeing little place for it in their studies, work, or social life.

Such a person has not necessarily lost their Welsh. Their relationship with the language may have changed because circumstances have changed.

This problem is recognised at the highest levels of Welsh language policy. The Welsh language commissioner has identified the need to help young people retain their Welsh-language skills as they move into adulthood. Anna Brychan MS, the new cabinet minister for education and the Welsh language, has similarly warned that too many young people lose touch with Welsh after leaving school.

But recognising this problem is not the same as understanding it. This is not just a gap in research. It is a major problem for Welsh language policy. Without knowing what happens after young people leave school, policymakers cannot tell whether learning Welsh leads to using it in adult life.

Existing statistics cannot tell us when young people’s relationship with Welsh changes, why this happens, or which interventions would help. Success therefore cannot be measured only by how many pupils leave school able to speak Welsh.

The next step is to follow young people more closely. Experts need to understand why some continue using Welsh, why others do not and what kinds of support make a lasting difference.

The one-million-speaker target cannot be achieved through schools alone. Its success will also depend on whether young people have meaningful reasons, opportunities and confidence to use Welsh throughout their lives.

Sione Fukofuka has been released from his position as Scotland head coach on “compassionate grounds”.

The Australian will return to his homeland to be reunited with his family after taking charge of Scotland late last year and leading them through one Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign.

Forwards coach Dave Butcher will take interim charge and lead Scotland into the WXV Global Series in September and October, when they take on Canada and New Zealand before facing Australia three times.

Fukofuka said: “I’ve had to make probably the hardest professional decision of my life to step away from the role as head coach.

“I approached Scottish Rugby and asked for a release from my contract under compassionate grounds. Effectively, the stress and the strain on my family, who are back in Australia away from me, proved too much to continue and to do this role the way it should be (done).

“With the time back home in Australia over the summer, it was able to give me a lot more insight into the sacrifices that they’re making, on top of those that I make as well.

“We also had a change in circumstances where, unfortunately, my wife’s parents are unwell, so that means the family relocating in the 12-month plan that we had is not feasible anymore.

“I can’t be away from my family for that amount of time and do the job the way it should be done.”

The former Australia Women assistant coach and United States Women head coach thanked his employers for understanding his situation.

“There has been an understanding that aside from being a rugby coach, I’m also a father and a husband, and the impact that has on both my family but also on myself,” the 42-year-old added.

“Being here in Scotland has been amazing, I’ve loved every minute of living here and have really appreciated the opportunity, but not having my family with me and being able to share those experiences with them has been really tough.

“Our boys are quite young and are missing out on that support when I’m not there.”

Scottish Rugby performance director David Nucifora said: “I would like to thank Sione for his contribution to Scottish Rugby and whilst we are disappointed to see him depart, we fully respect and understand the reasons why he has made this decision.

“Our priority remains supporting the women’s national team and women’s programme players and staff during this period, with work being done to ensure appropriate structures are in place ahead of WXV Global Series along with long term recruitment conversations.”

PA

Ukraine has unleashed what is believed to be its most intense bombing campaign of the war, setting fires across Russia and blowing up a drone factory last night. 

A total of 1,165 drones, bombs and missiles were downed or destroyed by Putin‘s forces. 

In Belgorod, just 20 miles from Russia’s border with Ukraine, a drone factory was targeted by drones. 

Footage shared online showed the factory being blown up. A woman was heard saying: ‘Everything’s on fire there, everything. It’s a disaster, that’s where they make drones and teach you how to fly them. It’s ****ed, it’s all blown up.’ 

In attacks on Ukraine’s best day of the war striking Russia, he lost two major oil refineries Saratov and Ufa, and a Wildberries base at Novosemeykino in Samara region, while also facing attacks on the Engels-2 airbase, home to his strategic bomber aircraft. 

Fuel trucks heading to Russia-controlled Crimea were also hit.  

Also among the targets of the strikes was a warehouse belonging to the Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries in the Vladimir region, about 112 miles east of Moscow.

‘A fire broke out at one of the company’s logistics sites in the Vladimir region following an attack,’ Wildberries said in a statement, adding that warehouse staff had been evacuated.

Regional governor Alexander Avdeyev said the attack on the warehouse owned by ‘Russia’s Amazon’ was carried out by drones.

Among the targets of the strikes was a warehouse belonging to the Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries in the Vladimir region

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‘There is damage and a fire,’ he posted on the Russian messaging app Max, adding that ‘a young man was injured’.

Since mid-July, Ukraine has struck around 20 sites belonging to Wildberries across various parts of Russia and in annexed Crimea.

The initial attacks on the night of July 17-18 left eight people dead and nearly 90 wounded at sites in the Moscow and Tambov regions.

Since then, Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted sites near Saint Petersburg, in Simferopol in Crimea, in Krasnodar and Volgograd, and in Samara.

Wildberries is a highly popular online retail platform in Russia, often dubbed the ‘Russian Amazon’.

The attacks on its warehouses are part of a campaign of long-range Ukrainian strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Russia, which has been waging a large-scale offensive in Ukraine since February 2022.

Kyiv says the aim is to force the Kremlin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

Russia said this morning that it was stepping up protection of ships in the Azov-Black Sea basin while also developing alternative cargo routes, in a move that follows a sharp escalation of attacks at sea by both sides in the war in Ukraine.

The Russian transport ministry said that in response to ‘the tense situation in the Sea of Azov stemming from hostile drone attacks on maritime vessels’, it had set up a task force to find new routes and switch cargo flows to other modes of transport.

‘A number of stevedoring companies have already expressed their readiness to handle additional cargo volumes and accelerate shipment rates at their terminals, within the limits of their operational capabilities,’ it said in a statement.

Together with the defence ministry, ‘additional measures are being implemented to ensure navigational safety and to protect maritime vessels in the Azov-Black Sea basin’.

A burned car is seen after a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026

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A local woman reacts at the site of a Russian attack on a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, August 2 2026

Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter, and Ukraine, also a major agricultural exporter, have been attacking each other’s agricultural export facilities and commercial vessels in the Black Sea area in recent weeks, driving wheat prices higher on global markets.

Russia’s main grain lobby group warned on Friday that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships and ports could shut down grain exports via the Black Sea in the near future, pushing up prices and causing hunger in Africa and the Middle East.

Ukraine’s largest farming union, Ukrainian Agrarian Council, has also warned in recent weeks that Russian strikes on shipping near the southern port of Odesa were restricting Ukrainian exports in the key harvest period and could affect global food supplies.

Wildfires have forced around 60,000 people to evacuate parts of Washington state, destroying hundreds of buildings and leaving thousands without power.

Three major blazes continued to burn around the city of Spokane on Monday, with officials warning that the fires had not been contained.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the situation as “the worst natural disaster our region has faced”, adding that authorities were assessing the extent of the damage and were “still discussing the potential for lives to be lost”.

No deaths or injuries have been confirmed.

The fires in Spokane are among a total number more than a dozen wildfires in the state including 10 large ones, according to the dashboard, external on the state’s department of natural resources.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had warned of “extremely critical” fire weather over the weekend, with strong winds and unusually dry conditions helping the flames spread rapidly.

Scientists have said that human-induced climate change makes the warm, dry conditions that lead to wildfires more likely – as well as leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves, and potential summer droughts.

Betting sign up offers and free bets are available from UKGC-licensed betting sites for signing up and betting online on sporting events throughout the year, including football, horse racing, boxing, darts, tennis and many more.

At The Independent, our experts have used their impartial and detailed analysis to find new and existing customers the best betting sign up offers and free bets available.

We have stringent criteria when it comes to picking our top betting offers available. Our experts focus on accessibility, flexibility, fairness, key terms and conditions and regularity when selecting the best options out there.

Every betting site that we recommend is licensed and regulated by United Kingdom Gambling Commission, ensuring that new and existing customers are using a reputable betting operator.

Free bets can be claimed from betting sites by new and existing customers, allowing bettors to bet without risking their own money.

Terms and conditions are attached to free bets and betting offers. Usually, bettors must deposit or stake a qualifying amount to claim a free bet, which can be used on selected sports and events.

Wagering requirements can be attached to free bet offers, which means winnings must be played through a set number of times before you can withdraw funds as cash, but this is more common on online casinos.

Free bets are straightforward to use for customers, although the way they can be deployed may differ depending on your chosen bookmaker.

Usually, betting sites will have a box or toggle on your bet slip that users can tick or move to confirm free bets on their bet.

An important note. If your bet wins, you only keep the profit, the free bet stake itself isn’t returned.

Bookmakers may require you to use free bets in precise portions, such as £5 or £10, while others will allow you to bet with amounts of your choosing until you’ve used up your balance.

Here are the standout betting offers on the market for users broken down into strength of category.

Sky Bet – Best low-stake betting sign up offer

Sky Bet provide best low stake betting sign up offer for new customers offering users the chance to bet as little as 5p to secure the welcome bonus worth £30 in free bets to use anywhere on the betting site.

Sky Bet offers customers the complete range of its sportsbook to place their qualifying bet. The odds requirement of evens are higher than some of its rivals, but the 5p stake more than makes up for this with a relative low risk compared with others.

Once the qualifying bet settles, Sky Bet pays out your free bets within 24 hours. This can take as little as a matter of hours with Sky offering one of the fastest payouts among online betting sites.

Sky credits your free bets as 3 x £10 free bet tokens to use on the sportsbook. The free bet tokens are slightly more restrictive than other operators that allow users to split their bonus entirely on their choosing, but there are no restrictions where users can place their free bets in terms of sports or markets.

There’s also plenty of time to use the Sky Bet welcome offer, with up to 30 days to use the free bet balance before it expires. For first-time bettors it’s a perfect betting sign up offer for optimum value, needing only 5p to qualify.

Betano – Best football betting sign up offer

Betano is the best option for punters looking for free bets at leading football bookmakers, with the Betano sign up offer providing £50 in free bets with an initial wager of just £10 (an excellent return for a low entry stake).

The offer includes a straightforward qualifying bet with minimum odds of evens and no accumulator required, while the 30-day expiry on free bets gives users flexibility, with plenty of time to use bonuses.

This new betting site provides great variety on its football markets – from match odds and BTTS to goalscorers, correct scores and much more – and users will also find regular offers and promotions once signed up to the site.

Tote – Best for horse racing free bets

The Tote betting sign up offer is an excellent choice for horse racing fans, with a £5 bet returning £20 in racing value – a strong 4x reward for such a low qualifying stake.

The offer provides £10 in Tote Credit for horse racing – which is ideal for pools, exotics, and Tote-only markets – as well as £10 in free bets to use on the sportsbook, offering plenty of flexibility for new customers.

The qualifying bet simply need to be a £5 bet on any sport (with some exclusions, though win, place, or pool bets all count) at odds of evens or greater, and winnings are fully withdrawable, with Tote Credit profits available to be cashed out, keeping risk low.

Tote also guarantee boosts payouts paid at SP or better, adding an extra upside for horse racing bettors and making Tote the best choice among horse racing betting sites.

Bet365 – Best for moneyback as a free bet

Bet365 have recently launched its moneyback specials across a number of sports, including football and horse racing, as well as a range of major events.

Customers can wager up to £10 and will receive their stake back in free bets if their bet fails. The system is simple for claiming the betting offer, with users ticking the ‘Money Back As Free Bets’ box on their bet slip to qualify.

Free bets are usually credited within a matter of hours, but it can take up to 24 hours. Free bet credits can be used anywhere on one of the best betting sites in the business with no limit on where and how your credits can be spent.

Bet365 moneyback specials are most common on football, and notably the Premier League where the highlight games of the week are covered with a moneyback special notably on Saturday and Sunday evenings, although Champions League and Europa League midweek games have also featured this betting offer.

The nuts and bolts of the requirements are as follows. Customers must place a qualifying bet builder on the eligible game or event, with bet builders needing only evens (2.0) or higher odds.

Bet365 also attaches its Sub Play On feature on football bet builders in conjunction with the moneyback special, which keeps bets alive even if a player is subbed.

Virgin Bet – Best free bet club

Existing customers can use the weekly Virgin Bet rewards club to claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas.

Users only need to opt-in on the promotion before placing four £5 accas with odds of 2/1 or greater between Monday to Sunday, making these qualifying stakes smaller than most rival free bet clubs.

Virgin Bet have an extremely low minimum odds requirement to use your free bet at 1/100.

You’re spoiled for choice, and better yet, there are no restrictions where you can use your bonus.

In addition, the seven-day expiry gives plenty of time to use the bonus, meaning the free bet club offers huge flexibility.

After the qualifying bets have settled, Virgin Bet pays out the £5 free acca bet into your account and to activate the free bet offer, simply use the toggle on your bet slip to use up the credits.

Below, we’ve provided some detail on common traps that users can fall into when claiming free bets:

Stake not returned on free bets

Not all free bet offers return the original stake if your bet wins. For example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 pays £30 profit, not £40; always factor this in when comparing headline free bet amounts.

Short expiry windows

Free bets usually expire within 5-7 days of being credited, and occasionally less. Unused free bets are removed automatically once they expire, so casual or infrequent bettors can lose value this way.

Remember to always check the expiry date as soon as the free bet is added.

Bet builder or market restrictions

Some free bets are limited to certain types of use. For example, some are football bet builders only, accumulator bets or bets fixed to specific sports, leagues or events. These restrictions reduce flexibility and can increase risk.

Bet builder-only free bets often require multiple selections to win, meaning long odds, and it is the same with accas. Remember to check eligible markets before placing your qualifying bet.

Minimum odds requirements

Betting offers may require minimum odds on either the qualifying bet or the free bet itself, and sometimes both. Higher odds thresholds can push bettors toward riskier selections, while a smaller free bet with low odds requirements can offer better value.

Cash-Out and In-Play exclusions

Remember that cashing out a qualifying bet often voids eligibility for the offer. Some free bets also cannot be used on in-play markets.

These exclusions are commonly hidden in the T&Cs, so avoid cashing out unless you’re sure it won’t affect the promotion.

Wagering requirements and bonus conditions

Wagering is uncommon on free bets, but it is not unheard of. Some promotions attach extra conditions to winnings or follow-on bonuses instead.

Offers requiring winnings to be wagered multiple times reduce real value, while simpler “bet and get” free bets are usually the safest option.

Before a bookmaker makes our list of free bet offers, they must meet key criteria to ensure a high-quality betting experience.

1. Licensing

Only sites with a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence are considered on our list of recommended operators.

The UKGC ensures fair play and consumer protection, working alongside independent testing agencies like eCOGRA. If a bookmaker isn’t regulated, it’s not safe – anyone can verify a licence via the UKGC register.

2. Security

Every bookmaker we recommend must implement high-quality security measures such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data.

3. Reputation

Reputation also plays a role – established brands like Betfred, William Hill and Bet365 consistently rank highly with us, but we also highlight new, reputable operators such as BetMGM when their free bet offers meet our expectations.

4. Mobile

With most bets now placed on phones and tablets, mobile betting functionality is essential.

Bookmakers with dedicated betting apps that mirror the desktop experience are given preference, and we also consider user app reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores.

5. Experience

The customer experience is equally crucial – we rigorously test bookmaker support channels, favouring those that provide fast, effective resolutions.

Ultimately, our rankings focus on the quality of the free bet offers, but we also take into account matters including odds restrictions, timeframe to both unlock free bet offers and use your bonus funds, wagering requirements and available payment methods.

6. Value

Operators that provide valuable betting sign up offers, competitive terms, and ongoing free bet promotions for returning customers get the highest ratings.

If you decide to engage with any of the online betting sites highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets and betting sign up offers.

When betting, always assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford to lose. Even free bets still involve a level of risk.

The same applies if you’re using new online casinos, slot sites, poker sites or any other form of gambling.

Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.

If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

The crash involved a car and a motorcycle

A person was seriously injured after a crash in a Cambridgeshire suburb. Cambridgeshire Police were called to the A15 at Hampton Vale, Peterborough, on Saturday (August 1) at around 1pm.

A crash took place between a car and a motorcyclist. A police spokesperson said: “We were called at about 1pm on Saturday with reports of a collision between a car and a motorcyclist on the A15 at Hampton Vale.

“One person was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests and the London Road carriageway was reopened just after 2pm.”

The East of England Ambulance Service has been contacted for further information.

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

The popular volunteer-run event featured more than 300 classes, more than 120 trophies and over £6,000 in trophies.

All went well, but the dry conditions meant the cancellation of the showjumping and it was said the weather was too warm for the expected visit of the giant tortoises.

Large crowds were present, with organisers saying the turnout was similar to the well-attended 7,000 of last year, though a more accurate count is not yet available.

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John Revis and wife, Phil Tottie, Lisa and Paul Chasney (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Traders were happy when the Press saw them in the morning, though they admitted it was early days.

Among them Tara Gavin and Sheri Dignan of The Curious Confectionary of Doncaster, who were enjoying their first visit to the Tockwith show.

Tara said: “Other people we know have attended and they told us about it. The show makes for a lovely day out. It’s too soon to say how we are doing. It’s been steady this morning. I think people are having a look around first.”

Michael Broadbent and his 1967 Austin A35 van (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Anthony Barnett of the Little Fudge Company of Doncaster was back after several years away.

He said: “Business is always an afternoon thing but it’s a good show, you can’t really fault it. I came 4-5 years ago when it was really muddy. We did quite well.”

Anthony Barnett of the Little Fudge Company (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Tockwith Show is noted for its extensive vehicle displays.

Mark Denton of nearby Cowthorpe was polishing his steam engine. Mark tries to get out with his steam engine about four times a year and has done several pub runs with it, including Thorpe Arch, Walton and Tockwith.

He added: “This is my first time showing my steam engine here, even though I have lived here for years and years. There’s a good turnout, a good crowd. There’s lots of stuff to see, plenty of variety.”

Michael Broadbent of Barnsley was proudly showing off his white 1967 Austin A35 van, which he bought in May 2025.

Tara Gavin and Sheri Dignan of the Curious Confectionary. (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Michael said: “It’s had a full-bore metal respray, new disk breaks back and front, new wheel and an engine overhaul. It did come out of the factory this good.”

“This is my first season with the van though I was part of the Rolls Royce display last year.”

In the Discovery Zone Rachel Muir of Pocklington’s The Purple Pig Company was showing children how to feed her baby pygmy goats.

She said: “It’s a really lovely show, with a wonderful atmosphere.

Martin Denton of Cowthorpe with his steam engine (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Rachel added she is a regular at farm shows with the mobile farm, but most of her work is visiting schools.

The main sponsor this year is Tockwith-based Revis Transport.

The company’s John Revis said his business was supporting the show as it is a great community event, adding he’s been attending it for 35 years.

He added: “It’s a great, little show. We do not like blowing our own trumpet, but we will blow the show’s trumpet as much as we can.”

Rachel Muir and her pygmy goats (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Show chairman Phil Tottie said the show went very well and the society that runs the show were “very pleased with the great turnout.”

Final figures have year to be assessed but they are expected to be similar to last year.

Phil said today (Monday) the children’s mascot race proved popular, as did all the events in the main ring.

“I can’t single anything out. There were loads of attractions.”

“We are currently taking things down. The field will return to normal and after a few days rest we will start preparing for next year, which will be on Sunday August 1.”

Did you go to Tockwith Show? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Police and paramedics were called to an altercation on St Vincent Road in on July 18

A woman died from a stab wound after a violent altercation in Newport, an inquest opening heard.

Charlene Dowsell, 41, from Maesglas in Newport, died from a stab wound after police and paramedics were called to an altercation on St Vincent Road at around 1.30am on July 18.

Gwent Coroner’s Court heard on Monday that police had received a call alerting them to a man and woman fighting, with the woman bleeding.

Emergency services attended but despite first aid attempts Ms Dowsell was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Coroner Rose Farmer told the court that an inquest is being opened due to it being a violent death.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Stephen Leadbeatter and a provisional cause of death has been given as a stab wound to the left back, involving lower lobe of left lung, left hemi diaphragm, stomach and left lobe of liver.

A man has been charged with murder in connection with the incident. Albert Williams, 66, has been remanded into custody.

The inquest will resume on a date to be confirmed pending the completion of criminal proceedings.

In the days following her death, Ms Dowsell was remembered by her family as a “beautiful daughter and mum”.

The family’s statement reads: “To our beautiful daughter Charlene, mum of four beautiful children. They say time will heal, but time will never change how we as a family feel.

“You’re so loved by everyone that really knew you. You have left us broken hearted – we are all in shock. We don’t know what to do but we are finding comfort in memories we have of you. You did not deserve what you went through our girl.

“Losing our daughter at such a young age, she was the foundation to our family and without her it’s difficult to know what to do and what comes next. Four children without a mum is just heartbreaking.

“Gone are the days we used to share but in my heart you will always be there. You’re at peace now our beautiful girl. Gone but never forgotten.”