Tributes to Ruby Milnes (From York Press)

Tributes to Ruby Milnes

9:41am Monday 12th May 2008 in News By Richard Harris

FLOWERS and messages have been left at the spot where a teenager was killed after her bicycle collided with a lorry.

Ruby Milnes, 17, died on Thursday in a car park behind York Racecourse, off Bishopthorpe Road. It is thought she was cycling on the Sustrans Selby to York cycle path when she was hit by the Shepherd lorry, which is believed to have been delivering Portaloos to the racecourse.

About a dozen bouquets have been placed at the spot where she lost her life along with a graffiti board where messages have been left in her memory.

Staff at her former school have also paid tribute, as has one of her friends, Vicki Dawson, 17, of Holgate, York.

Vicki attended Millthorpe School with Ruby and had the same group of friends.

She said: "She was always happy, there was always a smile on her face. She was a very individual person, every time she wore something different and she had a lot of time for a lot of people as well."

Vicki said Ruby, who was studying at York College, liked dressing in vintage clothes and was very much her own person, not caring what others thought.

She said: "She was a good lass. There are people who were a lot closer to her than me, but she was a good friend."

Tony Wootton, head teacher of Millthorpe School, said: "Ruby Milnes left Millthorpe School less than a year ago and the whole school community is shocked and saddened by the news of her death.

"Ruby was a delightful student: popular, bright, intelligent with an engaging streak of individuality. The thoughts and prayers of the whole school community go out to Ruby's family and particularly to her brother and sisters still at Millthorpe."

A message left at the scene of the accident reads: "Thank you for reminding us how sacred every day is. Sadly missed, never forgotten."

Another reads: "We are going to miss you so much. You are such a lovely special person. Miss you sweetheart, lots and lots of love," while a third says, "Rubby Duck, you'll never be forgotten."

The accident happened at 4.30pm on Thursday and anyone who witnessed the collision between her cycle and the lorry is asked to phone York Police on 0845 6060247.

Please use the comment facility below to pay your tributes to Ruby Milnes.