Tributes to bus stop tragedy victim Rebecca McManus
A young woman who died when she was hit by a car at a bus stop was 'talented, warm, generous and lovely', devastated friends, colleagues and teachers said today.
Tributes have been flooding in for creative writing student, poet and musician Rebecca McManus.
The 21-year-old, who was often known for wearing a trademark red beret, died at the scene of the crash on the busy Hagley Road West in Bearwood on Saturday.
Miss McManus, of Oldbury, had attended King Edward VI College in Stourbridge where she achieved four A Levels – two at A* and two at grade A - before enrolling with the University of East Anglia in Norwich for an English literature with creative writing degree course.
See also: Rebecca McManus named as victim of bus stop crash tragedy
Jane Salmons, English literature tutor at King Edward VI College, said Miss McManus was an outstanding young woman.
"Not only was she gifted academically, she was also a talented poet and musician," she said.
"She contributed to many aspects of college life and her warmth and generosity made her extremely popular with staff and students. She will be greatly missed."
Staff at the University of East Anglia today described her tragic death as an 'irreplaceable loss'.
They have been offering support to her friends and fellow students and said the university flag will also be lowered in Miss McManus's memory tomorrow.
Professor Peter Womack, head of the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing (LDC) at UEA, said: "Rebecca was about to complete a three-year course in English literature with creative writing.
"She was an exploring, adventurous poet, and an active and popular member of the creative writing group and the wider LDC community.
"Besides her own writing, she studied critical theory in the second year, and was one of a small group of students who decided to found an extra-curricular theory group to continue her reading and thinking once the module was over.
"One of its most faithful attenders, she was a benign, quietly intellectual presence, head bowed over the page, wearing her trade-mark red beret, a bit shy, but keen to discuss a wide range of matters, from high philosophy to Facebook, and always gentle and generous in her interactions with others.
"She was a truly lovely young woman, serious but humorous, thoughtful but quirky, committed to writing and thinking but able to have a giggle. Her death is an irreplaceable loss, and she will be much missed by those who studied with her and by those who taught her."
Miss McManus also worked as a publicity assistant at publisher Unthank Books where staff have also spoken of their devastation after hearing the news.
Staff wrote on Facebook: "We cannot describe how devastated and distraught we were to hear that our friend and volunteer Rebecca McManus had died.
"It is utterly unconscionable that anyone should die so young and in such circumstances.
"Rebecca was a smart, generous, warm and wonderful person, a talented young writer with a huge potential and her whole life ahead of her. She had worked for us on two books in the last six months and we had very much enjoyed and appreciated her commitment and company.
"Our hearts go out to her family and friends. We are so sorry that this has happened and we will miss her very much."
Speaking on Twitter, author Sharon Zink described Miss McManus, who she had worked with, as a 'lovely, young and bright' woman.
A second woman, also 21, who was with Miss McManus at the time of the crash which happened at 7.50pm on Saturday, is in a critical condition in hospital.
Miss McManus was struck when a red Mitsubishi vehicle mounted the pavement and crashed into a bus stop. The car ended up in the grass embankment 50 ft away.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is being questioned by police.
Sgt Paul Hughes from West Midlands Police has urged witnesses to call 101.
