More than 100 people attended a balloon memorial at the playing fields at Weston under Penyard in tribute to 18-year-old Jade Smith, who died following a collision on the A40 on Monday, March 19th.

Friends and family of the young woman who died in hospital after the collision near Ross-on-Wye gathered at the playing fields on Sunday, March 25th to remember the popular, happy and sporty girl.

Flowers and balloons have been placed at the site of the collision between Ross and Weston under Penyard. Many messages of sympathy have been sent to the family or made via social media.

Jade was a pupil at Weston Under Penyard Primary School and John Kyrle High School where she was well known for her love of sport, her talent for maths, and where she made many friends.

Claire McKeown and Brian Bird of Weston-under-Penyard Primary School told the Ross Gazette: “The staff, pupils and all staff who previously taught Jade at Weston under Penyard CE Primary would like to pay tribute to her. Jade was a quiet, hard working girl who always did her best, and excelled in maths. Jade was a great friend and had a lovely sense of humour. “The school was very proud of Jade’s sporting achievements and the way in which she shone during residential visits. Jade was a fantastic girl who everyone connected with, and who the school community remembers with great fondness. We would like to send our love to Jade’s family and in particular to her younger sister, Gemma.”Nigel Griffiths at John Kyrle High School told the Gazette: “The school was shocked and saddened to hear the terrible news of Jade’s accident. She joined us from Weston under Penyard School in 2001 and settled into life at JKHS happily.”See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here