By HELEN COMPSON

Last updated at 12:40, Friday, 05 February 2010

A FAMILY was ripped apart by tragedy on Sunday when a mother and daughter were killed in a car crash on the Military Road.

Devastated Colin Washington paid heart-broken tributes this week to his wife Susan (46) and their youngest daughter, Katie (17).

Susan, a nurse on ward 2 at Hexham General Hospital, was selfless and never happier than when she was caring for other people, he said.

“It would have been our silver wedding anniversary in June and we were still deeply in love.”

Katie, who had special educational needs, was a former pupil of Hackwood Park School, in Hexham, before it closed in 2004.

She had attended Percy Hedley School in Newcastle since then.

Tributes were also paid by the Humshaugh community, where the Washingtons have lived for the past 11 years.

Susan died alongside her daughter following a crash on the stretch of road between Stagshaw and Chollerford at lunchtime on Sunday. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Susan had been returning from dropping off the couple’s son Nathan (14) at the MetroCentre.

The accident happened when her Vauxhall Astra pulled out to overtake another car, only to meet a Jaguar coming in the opposite direction.

The driver and a passenger in the Jaguar sustained minor injuries only.

The Washingtons had enjoyed a happy family night on Saturday, made complete by the fact their eldest daughter, Rachael (19), was home from Leeds University.

The family enjoyed an Indian take-away together to mark the occasion.

A technical support group leader with Procter and Gamble, Colin left home early on Sunday to go to work.

“Katie was up early as usual and I gave her a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye.

“Susan was still in her nightie. I ran upstairs to give her a kiss and said I’d see her later. That was the last time I saw them.”

The couple, who both grew up in Gateshead, were married at St Helen’s Church, in Low Fell, in June 1985.

Colin was three years older, but they attended the same schools and he remembers Susan’s first impression of him with a wry smile.

“Susan always recounted the story of when I was introduced to the whole school as the new head boy at Heathfield Senior High.

“She thought I was horribly self-confident and completely arrogant – but her account was always full of expletives.”

Colin proposed – by telephone from America, where he was on business – just 12 weeks after their first date.

Susan’s family wasted no time with the wedding arrangements either.

“We announced our engagement on her 21st birthday – on July 28, 1984.

“We went away that weekend, to the George Hotel in Chollerford of all places, and by the time we got back her mum and dad had already booked the church and the reception. And so the next 25 years went on!”

The couple set up home in Ayton village, in Washington New Town – “we became the Washingtons of Washington” – but that first trip to the George Hotel paved the way for many future visits.

It was during one of those visits that they spotted the new housing development in Beechcroft that they now call home.

The intervening years were split between Washington, Horndon-on-the-Hill in Essex and, thanks to one of Colin’s business postings, Budapest.

Katie was 18 months old when it became evident she was missing some developmental milestones. Despite a battery of tests, medics were never able to establish the root cause.

However, she thrived thanks to the speech and language therapy and “fantastic support” at Percy Hedley School.

Colin said: “Recently she read me one of her stories and it absolutely amazed that she could read some of the more difficult words without help. I was so proud of her.”

Headteacher of Humshaugh First School, Angela Steele, said Susan had been associated with the school and pre-school for many years as a parent and valued committee member.

“She was always extremely willing to organise, help, support and lend a hand in so many different ways, from community soup day, Christmas fairs and sports days to Friends of Humshaugh school event,” said Mrs Steele.

“Sue was always seen with a happy smile and a wave, together with a positive word for everyone.”

A joint funeral service for Susan and Katie will be held at St Peter’s Church, Humshaugh, on Tuesday afternoon.

First published at 09:38, Friday, 05 February 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk