Tributes: James Wickham

Singer Kirsty killed while swimming in Mexico

By James Wickham (Chief Reporter, Croydon South)

Croydon-born singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl has died in a freak boating accident while on holiday. Miss MacColl, whose hits include the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York, is believed to have died after being struck by a speedboat while diving off the coast of Mexico with her two teenaged sons on Monday.

Following visits to Cuba in the 1990s her song writing became increasingly influenced by Latin American music and her last album Tropical Brainstorm was received warmly by critics. Her death comes at a time when according to people close to her, she was enjoying her life and work more than ever before. The 41-year-old singer, who grew up in Selsdon, had just recorded a documentary series about Cuban music, which was due to start on Radio 2 on Wednesday. BBC bosses have postponed the show as a mark of respect.

Miss MacColl's death has stunned the pop world with tributes being paid by some of the biggest names in the business. She was not only highly respected for her voice and song writing talent but also regarded as one of the most likeable people in the industry. A greatest hits compilation released in 1995 featured glowing tributes from her contemporaries. Despite her success, Miss MacColl was remembered by friends and colleagues as someone who never adopted a rock and roll lifestyle or conformed to stereotypes. Wimbledon-based songwriter Tom Robinson said: "Kirsty was a human being first and a pop star second. She had enough talent to have hit after hit, but she chose to put her family first. She deserves respect for that."

The death of Kirsty MacColl on Monday brought tributes from some of the biggest names in music. But people who remember her as a bubbly Selsdon schoolgirl have also been reminiscing.

The daughter of the late folk singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl was born in Mayday Hospital, Thornton Heath, on October 10, 1959. Miss MacColl's parents separated when she was very young and she grew up with her mother, the choreographer Jean Newlove, in Beech Way, Selsdon. She went to Monks Hill comprehensive, now Selsdon High School, and spent a brief period at art college. Her first taste of the pop world came when, as Mandy Doubt, she sang with punk inspired Drug Addix. The band was invited to record for the fashionable Stiff label, but it was the teenaged Miss MacColl who was asked back and offered a contract. She married pop producer Steve Lillywhite in Warlingham in 1984 and had two children Jamie and Louis, before the couple separated in 1994.

Chris Couchman, a former tutor at her school, Monks Hill in Selsdon, taught Miss MacColl how to play the guitar and was recently cited by the singer as one of her early influences. Now deputy head at Edenham High in Shirley, Mr. Couchman recalled: "She was a lovely person and it was clear that she would be successful. She was involved in all kinds of drama and had an incredible sparkle. I took it as a great compliment that she remembered me. I was really delighted with her success and I am clearly very, very sad at the news."

Eleanor Redshaw, Miss MacColl's former head-of-year at Monks Hill, said: "I was completely gobsmacked when I heard the news. It was such a shock. We had hoped to see her career go onwards and upwards." Mrs. Redshaw, who lives in South Croydon and now teaches in Banstead, added: "She was a lovely, vivacious girl and we were all very fond of her."

Brenda Kidd, from Coulsdon, also taught Miss MacColl at Monks Hill. She said: "She was bubbly and quite cheeky. I remember her sneaking off PE one afternoon to go and see the rock band Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. "I said to her 'how will that help with your future career?' I had to eat my words later."

Mrs. Kidd who still teaches at the school - now called Selsdon High, added: "I was in tears when I heard about her death on the radio. It was hard to believe. I heard her interviewed on the radio only a few weeks ago and she seemed so happy, full of cheek and mischief."

Billy Bragg in Folk Roots
Philip Chevron in Hot Press
Frances Dickinson in The Guardian
Wes Eichenwald on his Web Site
Jan Fairley in The Guardian
Sharon McGovern on her web site The Cobra's Nose
Mark Nevin's personal memories are on his web site
Jean Newlove remembers her daughter in the Daily Mail
Dave O'Grady in Muse
NPR's tribute is also online

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Tributes: James Wickham

Singer Kirsty killed while swimming in Mexico

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