GLOWING tributes have been paid to a popular day nurse, who was heavily involved in helping young people in Marlow, after she died suddenly aged just 31.

Alison Clarke, who suffered with epilepsy, worked at Marlow Day Nursery. She passed away on Tuesday.

She had an epileptic fit which ultimately ended in her heart stopping and the extensive brain damage, due to lack of oxygen, resulted in her dieing.

Her husband Chris Clarke, 32, said: "Most people talk about her infectious laugh and that she never stopped smiling. Lots of parents of children she looked after have also posted comments about how Alison looked after their children.

"The support has been overwhelming. The family have received messages from all over the world which shows just how many people Alison knew.

"Alison loved her family dearly and was always in contact with them in some way.

"Alison touched so many peoples lives it seems difficult to get a grasp on quite what Marlow has lost.

"She had a bubbly personality and would say hello to anybody she met, walking into town to go shopping or to go out involved numerous conversations with people she knew."

Hundreds of comments and photos have been posted on Facebook.

Leave your own tributes below or send us an email. bfpnews@london.newsquest.co.uk.

 

Mr Clarke runs a professional fireworks display company, which Alison always supported at events and conferences. He said: "The support from other fireworks companies has been amazing; it is truly a unique set of people with great passion for what they do."

Alison was the grand-daughter of Portsmouth and Dunfermline footballer Jock Ross and was proud of her older brother David Ross who is a champion Bucks bowler and recently won the Marlow sports personality of the year 2013.

Alison attended Foxes Piece School then Great Marlow School, then later went to Henley College to do her child care qualifications.

Alison's life started with heartache at a young age when her mum passed away aged 36 when she was just 11 after a battle with cancer. She met Mr Clarke when she was 15 and in 2007 they got married. Mr Clarke said he knew they were meant to be together.

For nearly half her life she was involved in helping run youth clubs with her husband in Marlow. For the past eight years both Alison, Chris and her younger brother Michael helped run the Friday night Xtreme youth club which was run by members of her church MCF Community Church based at Foxes Piece School.

Mr Clarke said: "Alison from an early age wanted to look after children and worked very hard to get her qualifications to do so. For over ten years she worked at the Marlow Day Nursery looking after hundreds of children over that time.

"She was a valued member of the team who’s focus was purely on making sure the children were happy and well looked after."

As a sign of respect the nursery have said they will close for the day of funeral.

There will be a private cremation for family only.

This will be followed by a family friendly celebration of Alison's life at All Saints Church in Marlow.

It is up to the parents if they wish to bring their children. There is no dress code.

All welcome from 2pm All Saints Church next Thursday.

- THE Clarke family paid tribute to staff at Wycombe Hospital who helped Alison in her final days.

Mr Clarke said: "The family would like to express their upmost respect and eternal thanks to the ambulance staff and the ITU staff at Wycombe hospital.

"They literally did everything in their power to help Alison and make sure her final few days were as dignified as possible.

"The staff were so supportive of the family and went well beyond the scope of their jobs.

"The NHS gets a bashing quite often but the family really want people to grasp quite how amazing the ITU staff were, they really did care.

"The family are very keen to raise as much money for the ITU in Wycombe as possible and there will be an opportunity for people to donate in the coming weeks."