Neighbours have paid tribute to a “lovely” 81-year-old woman who died after being knocked down by a motorbike, saying she would be remembered for “always smiling”.
Shirley Clayton, 81, had been fighting for life in hospital after being struck in St James’s Road on June 5, but succumbed to her injuries ten days later.
FROM EARLIER: Pensioner killed after being knocked down by motorbike in St James's Road named as Shirley Clayton
After detectives investigating the death today named Mrs Clayton, others in her building in Tavistock Road paid tribute to a “positive” and “cheerful” woman who loved looking after her neighbours young children.
Vaishali Narayan, 35, said: “She was a very lovely lady. Very kind, always very cheerful. If you would see her she would always be smiling – you feel that she was a positive lady.”
As her four-year-old daughter Tanisha clung sadly to her mother’s legs, Ms Narayan described how Mrs Clayton would often play with the children on their floor, and even buy them Christmas presents.
Ms Narayan said she thought Mrs Clayton had lived in the building in Tavistock Road for more than 30 years with her husband Dennis.
Across the hall, 35-year-old Prachi Nanda said that when she had apologised to Mrs Clayton for noise her new baby was making, the pensioner had replied: “No, let him grow at his own pace.”
Ms Nanda added: “She was very friendly with the baby.
“Whenever I remember Shirley she was always smiling. I think everybody remembers her like that.”
The pair had been married for at least 50 years, according to Ms Nanda, who added: “They were together for so long, he’s saying, ‘I don’t know how to come to terms without her.’”
She said Mrs Clayton had been in the middle of preparations for her husband’s upcoming birthday at the time of her death.
Days before Mrs Clayton was knocked down, 25-year-old cyclist Magda Tadaj died after being struck by a lorry in St James’s Road.
The location had a notorious local reputation, Ms Narayan said: “That road is always busy and the traffic light is very bad – it’s really short and takes a really long time to walk across, so people try to cross quickly.”
Ms Nanda thought it was possible Mrs Clayton may have been on her way to do her grocery shopping before she was knocked down at about 3.40pm on Sunday, June 5.
A motorcyclist stopped and was questioned by police at the scene of the crash.
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