A WOMAN was killed in a crash this week as she rushed to comfort the son of her friend who had just died.

Caring Vera Wiser-Loots left her bed in the early hours of Tuesday to travel to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at King’s Lynn – but her blue Suzuki Splash left the road on the A47 and ended in a ditch.

Tributes have been paid to kindly Vera, aged 74, who was well known around the area as a former school teacher, a talented dancer, and a former active member of Wisbech Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.

She had enjoyed a dance lesson on the day before she died and had been looking forward to her son’s wedding to be held next year.

Daughter Anita Boekee said Vera was “almost too kind, she was always about giving to other people”.

Anita said: “People had tried to persuade her not to go. Her husband (Raymond) offered to drive her to hospital, but she insisted on going alone.

“Her friend Saskia Wykes had just died after a long illness; they had been friends for about 50 years.”

Vera lived in Arles Avenue with her husband Raymond, who she married in 1990. She was the mother of two children, Anita Boekee and Paul Boekee; and had five grandchildren.

Many people will remember Vera as a teacher of French at St Audrey’s Convent School in Wisbech; she worked there from 1964 until it closed in the early 1980s.

She also taught at Wisbech Queen’s School and continued her career at Spalding Grammar School until taking early retirement.

In the 1960s and 70s, Vera appeared in WAODS shows including South Pacific, Kiss Me Kate and Oklahoma.

Anita said: “She loved to dance; she absolutely adored dancing and was taking lessons right up until the day before she died. Dancing really was her passion.

“She wanted to be a ballerina when she was young, but she was too tall.”

Vera’s dance teacher, Suzanne Mayer said: “Vera received her ballet training under Stella Mann, which is classed as one of the best schools in this country.

“She was very artistic and helpful and enhanced our classes. She showed immense loyalty to her friend Saskia Wykes and will be greatly missed by all her dancing friends.”

Vera also loved to make greetings cards and was an active member of local craft groups who met together for card making.

Anita said: “She put such care and attention into her cards. We have discovered the cards she was already making for former teachers at the convent.”

The Wisbech bypass was blocked in both directions for more than three hours after the crash - which happened yards from the spot where Fenland councillor and former Wisbech Standard editor Roger Green died in a collision in July.

Police said the accident happened at around 2am on a single carriageway stretch of the road, between the Elm High Road and the junction with Broadend Road. A rapid response ambulance attended the scene of the crash, but Vera was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the collision should call Swaffham Road Policing on 101.

• Details of funeral arrangements can be obtained from W and WG West of Love Lane, Wisbech. 01945 584512.

• Leave your tribute to Vera by posting a comment below.