We are sharing this moving speech from Clare Rice, delivered at the Butterfly Ball in memory of her daughter Paige. Clare’s words reflect the love, grief, and resilience that continue to inspire the RoadPeace community, keeping Paige’s memory alive while raising awareness of the impact of road tragedies.
Good evening everyone, and thanks for coming. Thank you to Hannah for singing so
beautifully. After this small introduction I will be saying a few words, followed by Charlie
and then Lucy from RoadPeace. Once Lucy has finished, Hannah will sing the final song
which is dedicated to Paige. We will then have a thirty minute break before DJ Rosie
Allen. In the break please grab yourself a drink, fill the jar with hearts, take photos or
just gather your thoughts.
beautifully. After this small introduction I will be saying a few words, followed by Charlie
and then Lucy from RoadPeace. Once Lucy has finished, Hannah will sing the final song
which is dedicated to Paige. We will then have a thirty minute break before DJ Rosie
Allen. In the break please grab yourself a drink, fill the jar with hearts, take photos or
just gather your thoughts.
On your table, you will each find a small butterfly box, a favour, a little gift from me.
Under your box, you will find a quote or a positive meme. Paige was such a positive
person and I feel she would always want the very best for every single person here; even
though tonight brings up so many emotions, it is still a positive evening. Tonight brings
us all together, to keep Paige’s memory alive, and raise money for a brilliant charity. Just
before I start, if anyone else wants a raffle ticket, my sister will be coming around the
room shortly.
I actually found it quite difficult to write these words, not so much that I don’t know
what to say, more that I don’t know where to start and finish. I could talk about Paige all
day long, I think we all could. When talking about Paige, it is lovely to remember all the
fun and happy times, and we will do that tonight, I am sure. But, when I talk about grief
and the loss of Paige, it’s emotional and full of sadness. If you know me, you know I
always talk from my heart, I cannot pussyfoot around what has happened; the grief, how
we feel and the effect this has had on Tyler and I, and everyone who loved Paige.
Grief is just so complex – people often say things like: “Paige wouldn’t want you sad” or
“start living for Paige”. I know it all comes from a good place but it is not as easy as that.
I do know though, that me and Ty are really just surviving, we are learning this new path
we find ourselves on, and we are doing our very best. Some days, that might just be
getting up and getting dressed, and that is ok.
There is such a massive void in our lives and I think that is how it will always feel…like
something is missing, because it is. It is an empty space in our hearts. It is so difficult
to have so much love for someone and to not be able to give it to them.
We were always a trio – Clare, Paige and Ty. How do you move forward from such a
tragedy? Every day I hear Paige’s voice, her laugh and smile, but this is all in my head
now. Each morning I have the same chatter that goes on in my mind: “this is real, and
she’s not coming back.” That is how each day starts and has done since we lost Paige.
Paige was beautiful, inside and out, she wanted a house, marriage and babies. Paige
had such ambition, even from an early age, she was a make–up artist at the age of 15.
She deserves to be here.
Paige had so much to offer this world, now the world feels dim without her. Paige was
such a positive person with a heart of gold. My heart aches for the future Paige won’t
have – for the future we will never have as a family.
such a positive person with a heart of gold. My heart aches for the future Paige won’t
have – for the future we will never have as a family.
Paige loved being social, loved her holidays, dancing and meals out with the girls. She
was all about living life to the fullest, and she definitely did that, but it was all cut so
short. Life can be so cruel and that is the reason we are here tonight, because Paige
was cruelly taken from us, in the most traumatic way. Leaving us all here heartbroken
and navigating this new life without her. Paige’s story has touched so many hearts, we
have had so much support over the years off the most caring people, and even strangers
who have now become friends.
The effect that this has had on everyone is a true reflection of who Paige is, how loved
she is, and how missed she will always be. If you were lucky enough to know Paige, she
was like nobody else, she just had this vibe, that’s what we all loved so much.
Paige was so caring and looked after me when I began getting health issues. She was
my person. She would constantly push me out of my comfort zone and encourage me. I
trusted Paige with my everything, she was my best friend.
I am pushing myself, and have had improvements in my health recently, I am hoping
Paige is beside me with that big smile on her face, helping me through. She would be so
chuffed with my progress. You see, everything I do, I always imagine what Paige would
say.
I am taking her with me on this journey, it is not as exciting as her life, but she’d be
buzzing with everything I have managed so far, I know she just wants me to be ok.
What happened to Paige has shocked everyone, even to this day we are in disbelief. We
really never know when our time is up – we never think it will happen to us, or to our
loved one.
On the Saturday morning before Paige left she said: “I will be ok, Mum. I will see you
Sunday, promise.” Sunday arrived, I had to travel to Liverpool to identify Paige, just
hours after getting the news. Paige was killed that night, killed by a driver, driving
recklessly at 98mph, during a domestic.
Every day, 5 people are killed on our roads and roughly 80 sustain life–changing injuries.
Young people carrying peer–age passengers are up to four times more likely to crash.
Road death can affect anyone and at any moment, and road death is the biggest killer of
those aged 5–29 years old. It isn’t cancer or other illnesses, it is road death.
17th October 2021 was the day our lives changed forever, our whole world turned upside
down. I cannot quite believe it is nearly four years without Paige. Time really has stood
still, time is no healer, and there is no such thing as stages of grief.
I will grieve Paige forever and it will always hurt just as much now as it did then –
because I am Paige’s mum and my heart is shattered into a million pieces. How do you
heal that? My love and grief for Paige will be for eternity.
because I am Paige’s mum and my heart is shattered into a million pieces. How do you
heal that? My love and grief for Paige will be for eternity.
We all miss Paige dearly, when I look out at this room, I find myself looking for Paige, I
see her in all of you, as you see her in me. Paige loved her friends and she loved her
family. I appreciate all your love and support over the years, you have been amazing. I
have mentioned before that Merseyside Police didn’t offer me any support, luckily I
found RoadPeace.
I had a lovely message from Lucy, offering me support there and then. Most members
of RoadPeace have lost a loved one through a road crash. I like to use Paige’s day to do
some good and to raise some money for such a deserving charity.
I know Paige will be with us tonight, I will love you always Paige, wherever you are. I am
forever heartbroken. Now, just before I finish, I am going to read a poem which Brooke
sent to me a few weeks ago. We both share a love for poetry, I think it is a beautiful
poem.
I think there must be another world,
one where you and I are sitting side by side,
with our arms around one another
and we’re gazing at the sky
and we wonder,
how on earth could it ever be?
That somewhere there is a world with no you, and just me,
because you and I are one,
but we’ve been split in two.
It seems impossible that there’s a me without you,
but there isn’t – not really
I carry you with me,
in my heart and soul
is where you’ll always be
and I watch from this world
for all your little signs.
They pull me through these days
until that time arrives,
when we’re together again,
sitting side by side,
with our arms around one another,
gazing at the sky
Updated on: 23 September 2025