Briton Ferry station flower tribute to dead teenager

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Floral tributes have been left on the platform of a train station close to where a teenager died on Monday.

Gabby Joseph, 16, was struck by a train at Briton Ferry railway station in Neath Port Talbot.

A governor at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, where she was a former pupil, said she was talented and popular with many friends.

British Transport Police said the teenager's death was not being treated as suspicious.

School governor Alun Llewelyn said: "Everyone associated with the school will be very very sad to hear the news. She was a very talented young lady and had a lot of friends. She had completed her GCSEs. We are thinking about her family and friends."

Transport Police said they were called to the station along with South Wales Police and paramedics at 2129 BST on Monday. The force said in a statement: "A female was pronounced dead at the scene and the incident is currently being treated as non-suspicious."

[Chris from Nailsea]

This is indeed a very sad story. 

It is also covered in the Daily Mail - a couple of interesting comments have appeared in response to the article there.

[anthony215]

Shockinly i mhaving her  and freinds on my bus in neath  in january. A very nice polite young woman.

However some of the people posting comments on the story   i think must be thick, how can they expect a train driver to slow to a crawl at every station the passes through i dont know. Maybe all the platforms should be fitted with the glass creeens like they have on the jubilee line extension.

[devon_metro]

Mr B J Mann is somewhat of a fool.

Very sad story.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.

Mr B J Mann may be somewhat of a troll. 

However: I'd like to think that comment 11 was rather more supported, by the Daily Mail readership.

Not wishing to score points at all, by the way: just wanting to set the record straight.

CfN. 

[JayMac]

Dunno about 'fool' or 'troll'. B J Mann is a pr*ck.

[Jez]

I live in Neath but didnt know her. Very sad tho.

[anthony215]

Briton ferry station was full of flowers when i passed on the train this morning and there were even more when i stopped there on the 17:10 Swansea - Cardiff service. Noticed however that people have taken to writing all over the station signs, not something i think they should have done

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the South Wales Evening Post:

Family of tragic model to help grieving friends

The family of a teenager who died on railway tracks a year ago are raising money to support her friends devastated by the tragedy.

They have formed the Friends of Gabby Joseph campaign, which also aims to raise awareness of teenage suicides and guide young people to organisations that can help if they feel suicidal.
​
Aspiring model Gabrielle, known as Gabby, died last April when she was hit by a train near her Briton Ferry home.

Earlier that evening she had posted on Facebook her intentions of killing herself to her friends.

Said to have been an intelligent, beautiful and popular girl, Gabrielle was a Gower College Swansea student who had previously attended Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera.

Family friend Mark Adams, a Briton Ferry entertainer now back living the town after travelling the globe, is kicking off the appeal with a concert and auction. It takes place in Briton Ferry Rugby Club next Saturday night. Mark tours with his Vegas Legends show and performs as a solo artist under the name of Adam Marks.

He said: "I have been a close family friend since I can remember and this tragedy rocked the whole community. Gabby's family are trying to raise money and awareness for friends of Gabby who are still suffering with this loss.

"They are raising money for the Samaritans so those still affected by their friend's death can get counselling. The family are happy for me to kick off their fundraising and we have decided to do a concert and charity auction. We have had some great prizes donated but would like a few more to give a great start to the appeal."

A Facebook page has now been set up which explains how a lot of money had been raised for the Samaritans through the family's request for donations following Gabrielle's death. Since then her friends had raised even more money.

The page states: "Gabrielle's family felt they would like to use this money to support Gabrielle's friends and other young people whose lives have been affected by suicide. They formed the group, Friends of Gabby Joseph, which aims to do just that by providing access to one-to-one and group support, and raising awareness of the issues surrounding suicide in young people."

Mark said: "I will be donating a percentage of ticket sales for the concert to the appeal, and all the proceeds of the auction."

To donate prizes, contact him on 07706 825155.