Mum's tribute to tragic Alison
THE mother of a girl killed in a tragic farm accident has remembered her as "full of love".
Alison Torrens,daughter of one of Northern Ireland's top horse trainers, was killed on the family farm near Drumquin, Tyrone, in an accident involving farm machinery.
Devasatation
Her parents Mervyn and Anne and her sister Jennifer are devastated and are being comforted by relatives.
Mr Torrens is a racehorse trainer, well-known and respected in equestrian and farming circles.
Horror
It is understood Mr Torrens was out working in a field and, as he returned home, his two daughters ran to greet their father, and it was then that the accident happened.
Mrs Torrens told of her grief while sitting in the family home surrounded by Alison's show-jumping rosettes, trophies and photographs of her riding.
Star
Like her mum, Alison was an accomplished horserider and showjumper.
She had been riding since she was five.
"Anybody who met her, because she was such a good rider, could not believe she was only eight years of age. Everybody commented on the great hands she had," said Mrs Torrens.
Alison was a focused, dedicated and determined rider and knew what she wanted, her mother said.
She had a pony called Iggy Pop.
Pride
"She'd say 'This is my gentleman', in the same way I did about Lizzie my mare.
"Whatever I had, she had to have the same tack, same clothes, everything."
"I watched her ride the same style, she was just a miniature me," said Mrs Torrens.
"If I won something, I'd say to Alison, 'go on and get it', and for her it was like getting gold," she said.
"Alison, if she took a mind to do something, there was nothing in the world could stop her.
"She always gave a lot of love and affection to everyone, and if she saw someone at the show, she would give them a big hug, she had so many friends."
Mrs Torrens said the little girl lived to ride horses.
"She started riding on her granny's pony Calypso Springtime, and moved on to Brookevale Sammy Jo, and that started her off, jumping on the two ponies.
"Then she wanted to jump bigger fences, and she did that on Bonny Be Good. Wherever she went, she won every league goal," she said.
"I was happy for her to stay at gymkhana level, but she wanted to go on because I was doing it," she said.
Brave
Mrs Torrens recalled how Alison loved to ride well.
"If she jumped a double clear, she'd have her arms outstretched coming out of the ring saying 'Wasn't I good Mummy. Can I phone Daddy now to tell him how we got on?'."
She said Alison once won a rug, and was so delighted she did a lap of honour about half a dozen times.
The little girl also took a great interest in the racehorse training her father did.
"She'd say 'Well dad, are you happy, did you go well?'."
Warning
The grieving mother warned other parents in rural areas of the dangers on the farm.
"You can never take your eyes off them. It doesn't matter how careful your child is, they get playful and curious," she said.
"Love your children and enjoy them when you have them, because we don't know how long we have them for, and when they are gone, it is too late."
Grief
Ruth Moore, the acting principal at Langfield Primary, where Alison was a popular pupil, extended her deepest sympathy to the Torrens family on behalf of the school, its pupils, staff and governors.
"The entire, closely-knit, school community share in the pain of losing one of its valued pupils and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time."
Pain
DUP MLA Tom Buchanan, who is a neighbour of the family, said it was a shock to hear the news that a tragic accident had taken the child's life.
He said words are not enough to soothe her parents' pain.
"This is a terrible accident that has snatched a child away from her parents and sister.
"They will need a lot of support from the community and I know everyone will rally round. They will be facing an empty chair, silent voice, and a little one no longer with them is going to prove difficult in a family. I know from experience what that is like."
Mr Buchanan said he lost his son Nathan aged nine in 2002 through a short illness with a brain tumour.
"I stood where they are standing now, and I know the great sense of loss that family are going through, and it will take strong family support to get through the initial period and time that follows.
"I have no doubt their family and people in the area will give them all the help they require," he said.
Related stories:
Horse trainer's daughter dies in farm tragedy
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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