Daily Echo: THEY could not hold back the tears as they watched hundreds of balloons float into the sky in memory of the friends they loved so much.

Daily Echo:

More than 500 people turned out to release balloons and lay flowers in memory of Lily Butterfield-Godwin and Abbey Rogers in a Hampshire beauty spot.

Mourners cried and hugged each other for support as they listened to music, poetry and tributes read by friends of Lily and Abbey at the emotional memorial event in the New Forest.

The two 19-year-olds from Lyndhurst, who shared a birthday, had been travelling in a Mazda RX8 being driven by a 21-year-old man when it ploughed into a wall in Gosport Lane, Lyndhurst, killing the two best friends nine days ago.

Crowds were also told the other passenger who had been travelling with Lily and Abbey at the time of the crash had been released from hospital.

Friends video-called her so that she could watch the emotional event at Bolton's Bench in Lyndhurst.

Daily Echo:

The youngsters' deaths sent shockwaves through the community where they lived and worked.
Yesterday balloons lined the Lyndhurst's High Street marking the way to the memorial at the Bolton's Bench beauty spot, a favourite meeting place of the teenagers.

Since the crash last week hundreds of flowers and notes have been left there, lining the tree at the top and turning it into a makeshift shrine.

One note read: “Words are just so empty and meaningless to a heart so full of grief and sadness.”

Another said: “You are so missed. I will cherish the memories we shared forever. It will never be the same without you.”

Mourners had gathered to remember and celebrate the lives of Abbey, who had worked as a stylist at the Velvet Rooms in Lymington, and Lily, a nanny at Teddies Nursery in Southampton.
Daily Echo:
The crowds at the event, organised by April Moores, Lilly Vogt and Laura Armstrong, were told that the third passenger who had been travelling with the former Totton College students had been released from hospital.

She was able to watch the memorial event by video call.

Well-wishers tried to put on a brave face as they huddled together in the cold and wet weather to pay their respects.

There was a minute's applause before two balloons were released. Hundreds more pink, purple and gold balloons followed, filling the overcast sky

Daily Echo:

The release followed the reading of tributes from loved ones describing how loved ones had struggled to come to terms with losing the teens who they said were “like a sister” to them and how they will cherish their memories of them.

Avril Lavigne's Here's To Never Growing Up was played and later friends cried as they performed Jessie J's Who You Are.

An investigation is continuing into what caused the crash on the A337 in the early hours of Saturday, December 13. No arrests have been made.


The crash has also sparked a safety probe to see if improvements need to be made on the road.