HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a much-loved and inspirational mum and daughter who both tragically died in a car crash.
Andrea Rawley, 56, and her mum Brenda Drew, 90, devastatingly lost their lives after being involved in a three car crash on July 14.
The family lived in Benfleet for years, with Leah attending the Appleton School, before they moved to Wickford and opened the Lilliput Cattery.
In a heart-breaking tribute to both her mum and her nan, Andrea's daughter Leah has said "nothing will ever be the same".
Andrea was well-known across south Essex, owning a stable and being a major figure in horse-riding in the area - even featuring in London's New Year's Day Parade - while Brenda was a much-loved former scout group leader and the founder of the cattery.
Following the crash, at roughly 11.30pm in Burnham Road, Rettendon, a 36-year-old from Witham was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Tributes have poured in from hundreds of people, with a Gofundme page set up to help pay for Andrea’s funeral costs receiving more than £13,500 in donations.
Leah said: “Mum had a great sense of humour, she was one of those people who just light up the whole room.
“She was always laughing and willing to help people with anything whether it was horses or you name it.
“She was well known and a big influence in the horse world, she was always competing at local shows, she did equestrian, dressage, she even featured in the New Year’s parade on our horse - it was her whole world.
“Nan founded the cattery originally, mum took it over when she got older but when she was younger she played a big role in the scouts, she had her own club that she ran - all the kids absolutely loved her.”
Heartbreakingly, Andrea and Brenda were involved in the crash just minutes after dropping off Leah on their way home from a friends 90th birthday party. Brenda died at the scene while Andrea passed away later in hospital despite the best efforts of emergency services.
Leah said: “Me, my partner, my mum and nan went to visit her friend for a ninetieth birthday party, which was just a nice little barbecue, my mum dropped us off and ten minutes later her and my nan were dead.
“There’s nothing else I can say.
"It’s completely ruined our lives, nothing will ever be the same again now.”
The fundraiser can be found at gofundme.com/f/brenda-drew-andrea-rawley.
