The parents of Caroline Cumming have said their daughter’s New Year’s Day death has given them a “life sentence.”
Jamie Dolan admitted causing 23-year-old Caroline’s death by dangerous driving at High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday.
Steve and Val Cumming paid tribute to “fun-loving, bubbly, sparkling and conscientious” Caroline, whom they called Carrie.
The couple had been out on Hogmanay with some friends, but came home early in the celebrations.
They knew instantly something was wrong when police officers called at their Broughty Ferry home the next day.
“It was ten past nine in the morning when Val said to me, ‘The police are coming up the drive,’ and as soon as we saw them we knew it was serious and gut-wrenching,” said Steve (55).
“In that split second our lives were totally devastated.”No goodbyeHe added, “The circumstances are extremely hard for us. We never got to say goodbye.”
The last time the whole family was together was on Christmas Day, an occasion they described as “fantastic.”
Val (53) said, “I talked to Carrie every day on the phone and we met regularly to go to the DCA for lunch.
“She loved her French Martinis, especially when I was paying,” she joked.
She added, “We will never recover from this it’s a lifetime sentence for us.”
Carrie, a former pupil of Eastern Primary, where Val teaches, and Dundee High School, completed a forensic psychobiology honours degree in July last year, achieving a 2:1.
She was set to begin a post-graduate course in teaching this year and, during the last three months of last year, had been gaining classroom experience at Eastern Primary, something Val said she loved.Social lifeCarrie was involved in a large number of social clubs throughout her life, ranging from Sunday school, Rainbows, Broughty Ferry Girls Club, dance class and Cadets, to roller derby and burlesque latterly.
Another of her passions was horse riding, which she took up at the age of three. She had her own ponies at Rowanlea stables, which she visited every day for around 14 years.
Steve and Val also praised their son, Chris (26), a dentistry student at Glasgow University, whom Val said has been “wonderful” throughout the difficult past eight months.
Caroline’s parents read a statement outside the court, thanking Tayside Police for their thorough investigation and the emergency services who were at the scene of the incident.
They also paid tribute to the staff at Dundee’s procurator fiscal’s office and the Crown Office for their work.
“Finally, we would offer our thanks to friends, neighbours, colleagues and family for the love and support they have given us in the last, very emotionally draining, seven months,” they added.FriendsSome of Caroline’s best friends paid their respects. Sharon Muir (34), from Troon, met a 17-year-old Caroline for the first time in 2004 but they fast formed a close bond.
“We became friends very quickly, even though I was 12 years her senior. She was very mature for her age and extremely sharp-witted and fun to be with,” she said.
“She was a very colourful and unique person and she was very, very dear to me.
“I still think about her every day and how she made a huge impact on my life. I’ve never known anyone quite like her.
“I was diagnosed with a serious illness in 2007 and Carrie was my rock. She had such a caring side behind that extrovert exterior and spent many weeks supporting me through some really rough times.
“For this I am eternally thankful. I miss her so much it hurts and I still often find myself in tears when something I see or hear reminds me of her.
“I still have to walk out of a shop if they’re playing Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ one of her favourite songs.
“If I close my eyes I can still see her huge smile and hear her laugh – I’m glad I have so many amazing memories of her.”
Emsy McMahon (22), a student from the West End of Dundee, said, “Carrie has always been a huge influence in my life since I moved to Dundee five years ago.
“She was an amazing friend and always was the life and soul. She is and always will be truly missed.”
Ruth Aljasser (24), who is teaching English in Barcelona, said, “I first met Caroline at nursery and I remember us being at ballet together, although we usually did more giggling than dancing.
“One of the last times I saw her was after we both graduated on the same day and we went to the students’ union – I still miss her a lot.”