The sky above Hornsey was lit up with lanterns to celebrate the birthday of a beloved Islington teacher who died after being hit by a van in December.
Tracey Wilson would have been 56 on Monday.
Friends and family of the senior City of London Academy Islington teacher sang her “Happy Birthday” and shared memories under the floating lights, a few of which got stuck and smouldered in the trees.
Her brother Steven, 53, told this paper: “From the funeral onwards, the support we had has just been unbelievable – it’s been overwhelming.
“We are still in total shock as a community and trying to come to terms with it. It hasn’t sunk in.”
Tracey was knocked down by a driver in Hornsey High Street on December 27. She died two days later in hospital.
The driver stopped at the scene and wasn’t arrested.
Up to 1,000 people took to the streets to say goodbye to Tracey in January, with her horse-drawn hearse proceeded by a police escort and queues out the door at St Mary’s Church Hornsey.
Tracey’s niece Hannah, 21, said: “At the end of the day everyone is out here and you can tell by the numbers she was loved.
“That’s the most important thing – it’s the way the Wilson family is.”
Tracey’s son Courtney, 34, added: “Today was mum’s birthday and the thought of letting some lanterns off is to bridge the gap with mum up there and make communication.
“The whole community is here.”
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