TRIBUTES have flooded in for a mother-of-two whose life was cut short this week – a woman described for her many positive attributes to be ‘absolutely irreplaceable.’

Carol Tolson, 55, from Lympstone, died on Sunday following a tragic skiing accident while on holiday in Obergurgl, Austria. She fell on the slopes and suffered severe head injuries.

Failing to regain consciousness, it was decided to turn off a life support machine which the former music teacher remained on for seven days after the accident.

Such was the high regard she was held, Mrs Tolson, who leaves husband Robin, and two children, Lizzie and Alice, will be sorely missed not just by her relatives but also the Lympstone community.

Following a private family funeral tomorrow, March 11, there will be a service to remember Carol at Lympstone Parish Church on Saturday, March 12, at 12 noon in the village church.

Mrs Tolson was a keen member of many activities in Lympstone, especially for her involvement with Lympstone Players, the amateur dramatics society.

Shirley Wilkes, chairman of the players, said news of her death had been ‘very traumatic’ for everybody who knew her in the area.

Mrs Wilkes, a close friend, said: “There are so many people in the village who are affected by this.

“We worked closely together in the last two pantomimes and had so much fun. She was a tremendous contributor to the productions.

“She had such a wonderful sense of humour and was an incredibly kind and thoughtful person. She is absolutely irreplaceable.”

Clive and Jill Wilson, both friends of Carol’s, said she had the most unaffected modesty for a person with many talents.

Mr Wilson added: “She played classic piano music, for instance, superbly well.”

Harland Walshaw, one of the founder members of Lympstone Entertainments, echoed the views of Mr Wilson in saying Carol was an ‘incredibly unassuming’ person with many talents.

“She performed a 10 minute piece of a Beethoven Variation on God Save The Queen on the piano for the Hollow Crown production which I directed last year.

“It was so good that it was the highlight of the show.

“She was totally unassuming - someone with no ego which was one of the reasons that made her such an attractive person.”

Don Mildenhall, from Lympstone, said: “Carol played a big part in village entertainments, so her untimely death leaves very many people very sad.

“We will remember her leading from the front with the music for Players’ productions. It’s a blow to the village, as well as being an awful tragedy for her family and close friends.’