Parents pay moving tribute to daughter, 17

11:12am Thursday 15th May 2008

"RUBY was clever, funny, stylish, loving, gifted, caring, stunningly beautiful and so, so deeply loved."

The distraught parents of cyclist Ruby Milnes today paid this moving tribute to their daughter, who died in a collision with a lorry while on her way home from college along a York cycle track.

Dave and Al Milnes said that Ruby was, like her name, a "rare and precious individual," who had brought them incredible joy from the moment she arrived in their lives.

They told The Press: "Ruby is the eldest of our five children. All six of us are missing her terribly, and we always will. We are an extremely close family and Pearl, Max, Bonny and Olmo are distraught, as we are.

"She wasn't afraid to be different from the crowd - she found her own way and was an inspiration to others.

"We were excited about Ruby's future and very much looking forward to knowing the exceptional young woman she should have become."

Police are investigating the circumstances behind the accident, which happened last Thursday afternoon as Ruby, 17, of Bishophill, was returning home from York College along the Sustrans cycle path at Bustardthorpe, at its junction with a tarmac road at the back of York Racecourse.

Officers have appealed for witnesses or anyone with any information to phone PC Lee Cobb on 0845 6060247.

A large hedge at the side of the cycle track, mentioned at an inquest which opened into Ruby's death earlier this week, has been trimmed to improve visibility, and City of York Council is meeting Sustrans next week to discuss what, if any, improvements can be made to the junction.

Mr and Mrs Milnes said they had always insisted Ruby use the cycle path to college, because they felt they knew it would be safe. "That's what we believed," they said.

"Ruby touched so many lives, and all of her friends, and ours, are helping to support us. At the moment we are being carried by their incredible love and help and we are grateful to all of them."

A funeral service for Ruby is due to take place tomorrow at St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Church, followed by interment at York Cemetery.

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