THE family and friends of a grandmother crushed to death in a lift on Woodford Green's Orchard Estate returned to the scene of the tragedy for her funeral this afternoon.
Christine Allen, 50, was killed last month after becoming trapped in an elevator door in the Lambourne Court block of the neighbourhood, despite warnings from residents to the council that the lift was unsafe.
Emotions were running high as residents gathered to see the procession off from the estate, before it headed to a small family service at the City of London Cemetery in Aldersbrook.
Daughter Laura Dawkins paid tribute to her “amazing mum and amazing nan” and vowed to keep up her campaign for justice.
She said: “I will not rest until all these towers come down. I will keep coming here until it's done. They've been taken down in other places and it needs to be done here too.
“She was a diamond. She was always trying to make everyone laugh. I can't put it all into words what she meant to us, but she was well liked by everyone and we're all going to miss her a lot.”
John Howard, 56, who knew Ms Allen as a fellow member of All Saints Church in Woodford Wells, said: “She was an absolute star. She used to everyone and to do everything she could to make people happy.”
Neighbour and family friend Carol Conway said: “Everyone on the estate has been so shocked and saddened by what occurred, but it was something that was waiting to happen. The lifts are always breaking down, but the council just don't listen.”
Fellow resident Angela Nasango came from her flat to watch the procession off. She said: “It's so sad. But it's also made everyone worried about the lifts. They all need replacing. I've been there when the doors open but the shaft is empty.”
Redbridge Homes, the group which maintains the council's housing stock, closed their office today in the Orchard Estate as a “mark of respect”.
But resident Tina Chatfield, said: “They're just trying to hide away because they knew we were all going to be here today, they don't want to take the blame. What happened was disgraceful.”
An investigation into what happened by the police and Health and Safety Executive is currently on-going.
Redbridge Council have said it would be “unwise” to comment further until the investigation is completed, but have passed their condoslences on to the family.
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