Tracey Wilson: Son leads tributes to ‘strong and inspirational’ Islington teacher who died after Hornsey collision

Tracey Wilson raised lots of money for good causes. Picture: Courtney Wilson (Image: Archant)

Tracey Wilson, 55, of Birkbeck Road, a senior teacher at City of London Academy Islington in Prebend Street, was hit by a van near St Mary’s Tower at 5.10pm and died in hospital on Saturday.

The driver of the van stopped at the scene, and was not arrested.

Her son Courtney, 34, told this paper: “She was a strong and inspirational woman who helped so many people and opened up so many doors.

“She listened to people and told them what was going on if they were off the path.

“As well as fighting her battle with battle with cancer and being in remission for 11 years she did a lot of charity work. She will never be forgotten.”

Tracey raised Courtney as a single mother and did lots of cleaning jobs to support them, as well as working as a dinner lady at Campsbourne Primary School, in Nightingale Lane, which he attended.

There is expected to be a special assembly to honour Tracey’s memory at City of London Academy when school restarts next week.

She had worked at the school, formerly Islington Green, for 20 years and played a vital role in safeguarding the wellbeing of its young people.

As well as her only son and his girlfriend Yolanda, Tracey left behind her two year-old grandson Cody.

Courtney said Tracey and Cody were “like two peas in a pod” and that she “absolutely doted on him”.

Yolanda said Tracey was “so proud of her son” and helped not only him but “so many other young men to find the balance and become great fathers”.

“The moment I met Tracey I loved her,” said her friend Alison Ewing “And everyone did.

“She would do anything for you and she helped us all over the years.

“Her family, friends and teaching meant everything to her.”

Another friend of Tracy’s, Chandis Read, said: “I looked up to her as a single mother striving to do better for herself, she was an inspiration and one intelligent woman.”

Dave Kelly added: “This is a lady that saw many of us now grown up adults thrive through childhood on the Lightfoot Estate in the 80s and 90s.

“A very strong, fun loving, caring, heartfelt woman.

“One that many would have given our all to protect her, and a lot did so too through her battle with the big C.

“I personally drove my truck in the Hornsey carnival for her chosen charity with many to support her. I have plenty of great memories of Tracey from a young child to the 42 year old man I have become.

“Her family and many friends will always live her life on for her, she will never be forgotten.”

Terry Acik, 55, who owns Terry’s Kebab shop on Hornsey High Street, said: “I knew the lady for 26 years, she was very nice and friendly. She was a family lady with a good character.

“People are always driving at crazy speeds on this road and it’s scary. There is also a school here [Greig City Academy] We need to make it safer for people. We need a speed camera.”