Thinking of You, Kirsty...

Kirsty MacColl would have been 55 years old today.  It is so tragic that the beautiful and talented singer/songwriter was taken from us before she reached even her 42nd birthday.  I am still very angry about what happened, as well as being heartbroken.  If you know Kirsty's story, I'm sure you feel the same.

Kirsty MacColl was born in Croydon, Surrey (just a few minutes from where I lived) on 10th October, 1959.  She was the daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl, best known for writing the classic The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

Kirsty followed her father into the music business, and in 1979, her first single They Don't Know (later a hit for Tracy Ullman) peaked at No 2 on the Music Week airplay chart.  Other hits followed, most notably There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis, and a superb cover of Billy Bragg's A New England.

In 2000, MacColl and her family took a holiday in Mexico.  On 18th December, 2000, she and her sons went diving at the Chankanaab reef, part of Cozumel's National Marine Park.  This was a designated diving area from where watercraft were restricted from entering.  However, as the family surfaced from a dive, a speeding powerboat (owned by a Mexican millionaire) entered the restricted area.  Kirsty's 15-year-old son Jamie resurfaced directly in the boat's path, and was pushed to safety (he suffered minor injuries) by his mother.  Kirsty MacColl was hit by the boat, and killed instantly.

A sad, sad day, and a totally unnecessary tragedy.