MOURNERS are expected to fill St Mary s Church in Wethersfield on Thursday for the funeral of an inspirational student. Gemma Marshal, 22, who studied at the Helena Romanes School (HRS) in Dunmow, was killed in a crash on November 11, as she travelled f

MOURNERS are expected to fill St Mary's Church in Wethersfield on Thursday for the funeral of an 'inspirational' student.

Gemma Marshal, 22, who studied at the Helena Romanes School (HRS) in Dunmow, was killed in a crash on November 11, as she travelled from university to visit her parents in Swaffham, Norfolk.

Ruth Halls, head of textiles at HRS, who taught Gemma, and will be speaking at today's service said: "Gemma was an extremely happy person who was an inspiration to everyone."

Gemma, who lived in Rayne while she was a pupil at HRS from 1995 to 2003 took her A-Levels before going on to complete an extended art and textiles course at the Cambridge Regional College.

At the age of seven, she was achieving in classes, singing solo and in the choir, and showing

a great aptitude for art and crafts, her teacher at the time describing her skills being at an advanced level.

At HRS she excelled in Arts and Crafts, English and History. She took the accelerated GCSE

Textiles and passed with an A* grade after only three months of studying.

She then went on to take her AS Level and A Level in the subject achieving full marks in both.

Her work for these courses

is still held by the examining boards and given as examples of exemplary pieces, which they describe as exceptional.

Mrs Halls described Gemma as being an inspiration to so many people and recalls how she helped younger pupils with their English, a subject she also enjoyed, particularly poetry.

She then won a place at Winchester School of Art (WSA) where she was studying textiles and had been predicted a first class honours degree.

Her knitwear work she produced at the WSA had caught the eye of several people including fashion house Ghost, which had asked to see her designs.

The WSA was also going to show her work at the Paris Fashion Show in the Spring as part of an exhibition by top UK talent.

Some of her work will still be shown as a tribute to this remarkable woman.

Mrs Halls added: "She inspired everyone around her, including me. Even just today a pupil was looking at her work and said to me 'I just hope I can do something half as good as this'.

"Gemma's passion for textiles and her happy attitude to life sparkled like the stars she used in her wonderfully bright and brilliant designs. She'll be missed, terribly. It's all so very sad."

Gemma's funeral takes place at 2pm and her family wanted people to know that everyone is welcome and requested for people attending to wear bright colours.