TRIBUTES have been paid to a woman who made a tremendous contribution to the arts in Thurrock and helped many local children come into contact with music for the first time.

Gabriella Forster-Still was head of Learning snd Participation at the Royal Opera House, based at High House Production Park in Purfleet - a post she took up 12 years ago.

ROH Director of Learning, Jillian Barker, has paid tribute to her work following her death.

Jillian says: "Everyone at ROH was devastated to lose our much cherished colleague Gabrielle on July 8 this year after a long illness.

"To coincide with her funeral, ROH staff past and present gathered to pay respects and it was very clear how deeply she had touched the lives of so many.

"Born in Nuremberg, her independent spirt was there from the start. And at 16 she left home, came to England, found her own school and later took her degree at Rose Bruford where she discovered community arts as a vehicle for change. She married and returned to work in theatres in Germany where Vince and Felix, her much-loved boys were born.

"Fortunately for ROH, 12 years ago she arrived in Thurrock, and her pioneering spirit made her central to ROH's Learning and Participation team

"Her passion was the arts, her life's mission to transform the lives of people through the arts. Why? Because she genuinely believed in social justice. She believed the arts help us see more clearly, think more deeply, live more joyfully. And through her commitment and optimism, she has helped deliver a remarkable turnaround for the community of Thurrock, particularly a whole generation of children.

"We will always remember her for nurturing her staff so they could shine, giving ordinary people the chance to sing in extraordinary performances , championing teachers so they can lead, challenging imaginative students so they could design, and Trailblazing across Thurrock schools so a generation of pupils can express their creativity.

"It was a joy to work with such a trusted, well liked and respected colleague. She was driven but always sensitive, visionery but always pragmatic, worked tirelessly but always made time for a cuppa, a chat, a fancy dress moment at the legendary Christmas Parties

"I last saw Gabrielle in her beautiful rose-filled garden just a few days before she left for Germany. We sat and had the conversation we needed to have.

"Throughout her long illness, her positivity and determination shone through. She was resolute about finding the best treatment and bravely with her sons, drove to Germany to get to the clinic she had researched so thoroughly.

"But talking to her, I had a sense that it was also about going home, the circle completing. And her parents, sister and close friends were able to share time until the journey ended.

"As her family wrote: 'Gabi left us too early, but her life was always fulfilled; always enterprising and adventurous. She lived life to the fullest and that's how we will remember her.'

"She touched the lives of so many people and made a real difference to the people of Thurrock."