Tribute to Mia-Lucy from her Star Friend

Pop star and Hollywood film actress Hannah Spearritt last night paid a moving tribute to her “dazzling friend” who lived life to the full.

Mia-Lucy Rose, 24, of Gorleston, died when she was swept away by a river in the south-east Asian country of Laos.

Last night, former S Club 7 star Hannah, 22, was still coming to terms with the death of one of her oldest friends, whom she descried as a “flash of greatness”.

Hannah’s mother Jenny said she was devastated after learning that Mia-Lucy had been swept away as she tried to wade across the River Mekong to reach an island last Tuesday.

She said that Hannah had grown up with Mia-Lucy, and the pair had performed together in shows organised through their local dance teacher June Glennie. They stayed in touch after Hannah shot to fame and Mia-Lucy, a media studies graduate who dreamt of becoming a filmmaker, did work experience with the band at one of their shows in Manchester.

Mrs Spearritt said she had first wanted to keep the news from Hannah, who is currently in Romania filming the horror film Seed of Chucky, but decided she should be kept informed.

“She was absolutely devastated when she found out. She really hoped they would find her alive and was clinging on to that. It was a terrible shock when we heard the news,” said Mrs Spearritt.

“Mia-Lucy was a lovely person, so friendly and bubbly. The two of them were close friends and we have known the Rose family for many years. Pauline was even my bridesmaid when I got married 31 years ago.”

She said the family hoped to attend Mia-Lucy’s funeral once arrangements have been made. Last night, Mia-Lucy’s brother Mark, 28, said the family were still organising the funeral, held up by having to translate documentation from Laos.

Hannah’s thoughts about Mia:

Listening to the song Supergirl this morning it reminded me of Mia. Yes Mia. She was an absolute supergirl. She was special. The amount of life she lived in her days was extraordinary. The amount of people she moved and touched was extraordinary too. She was so alive and still is.

She was a spark, a flash of greatness. She would dazzle everyone with her energy. She knew what she wanted in life, what she wanted to achieve and my guess is she would have made it.

Looking back at our dancing days together brings happy memories. We were very young and with Mia being a year older, I looked up to her. Mia shone at dancing, always that little bit quicker than me to pick things up. Every year we did duets together at the Norfolk Festival – she was the best partner you could have. The only time we ever moaned was when Sharon our modern teacher used to come round and prod her finger into our sides if we got things wrong. Even then afterwards we would laugh.

Mia was a great friend who will be dearly missed by me and so many others. You only had to meet her once and she would make a lasting impression.

Thanks for the memories Mia. You will never be forgotten. You will always live inside of meâ€¦ until we meet again.

Your loving friend, Hannah xx