Tributes paid to university lecturer killed in Plymouth 'who spent her life giving to other people'
25 January 2025, 21:29 | Updated: 25 January 2025, 22:14
Tributes have been paid to a university lecturer who was found seriously injured in Plymouth on Wednesday and later died in hospital.
Claire Chick, 48, "spent her life giving to other people", said Jo Taylor, who launched a fundraising page to help her two daughters with funeral costs.
"Her infectious laugh is a sound I will never forget," she wrote.
Ms Chick, previously known as Claire Butler, had five grandchildren who call her "favourite grandma", according to a statement by her family.
"We are absolutely devastated and broken at the loss of our beautiful caring mother," said Ms Chick's family in a statement.
"She was the most beautiful lively soul and was there for everyone.
"She loved to dance and sing, even though she was pretty bad at it; she had no shame in doing it in front of any audience."
Ms Chick taught at the University of Plymouth's nursing school after a career in nursing.
"Due to her passion, there will be amazing nurses out there looking after yourself and your loved ones," wrote Ms Taylor on the fundraising page.
One former student of Ms Chick posted on social media saying: "She was truly one of the most kind-hearted souls you'd ever meet and had so much going for her.
"She was an amazing tutor, phenomenal lecturer and a phenomenal nurse," they said.
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On Thursday, a 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder about 20 miles away in the Liskeard area of Cornwall.
He is currently being held in police custody.
Devon and Cornwall Police said it would refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of previous contact with Ms Chick.
An IOPC spokesman said once this is received, the watchdog will "carry out an assessment to decide what further action is required by us".
(c) Sky News 2025: Tributes paid to university lecturer killed in Plymouth 'who spent her life giving to other people'
