HEARTFELT tributes from all over the world have been pouring in to the family of Lancaster teacher Carolyn Horne this week after she was killed in an accident. Described by family and friends as a special person with the ability to touch the lives of everyone she met, Carolyn died after she was in collision with a car along the A6 in Garstang. The 54-year-old runner was training for this year's London Marathon to raise money for charity when the accident took place earlier last week.

Sister-in-law Pam Horne said the family had been overwhelmed with condolences from hundreds of Carolyn's friends from as far as America, Mexico and France.

Pam told the Citizen: "She was a humanitarian and a great lover of people. She was always wanting to help others especially those who felt vulnerable and she inspired them with confidence."

The mother-of-two was the director of Primary Initial Teacher Training at the University College of St Martin.

Dorian Edynbry, college principal, said: "The tragic news of the untimely death of Carolyn Horne has been a great shock to both staff and students. Her contribution to the training of primary school teachers in the North West and in East London was recognised as one of St Martin's great strengths."

Her professionalism and integrity made her an extremely popular colleague and tutor. She was a nationally recognised as an authority on primary school teaching and was instrumental in accrediting the college with four grade ones as a result of a recent Ofsted inspection. Family friend Helen Stevenson described Carolyn as a light who guided many people in their darkness. She said: "Even though Carolyn is no longer with us in body, her presence remains. In her lifetime she planted many seeds of goodness in the minds of many people."

The funeral service takes place at the Quaker Friends Meeting House in Lancaster this Friday at noon. The family have requested people to bring plants and trees to the service instead of flowers.

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