Tributes to Claudia Landa one year on

Claudia Jennifer Landa was just 17 when she was struck by a breakdown truck on Carshalton Road after stepping out to cross to the bus stop on her way home from Richmond College.

London Ambulance managed to resuscitate the Hackbridge teen and she was taken to the Royal London Hospital by air ambulance. However, after two days in intensive care, she was pronounced dead on Friday, April 4, having suffered a severe brain injury.

Her mother Naomi Martin, who is director of the Commonside Trust, a charity which runs the New Horizon Centre in Pollards Hill, said: "This past year has lasted forever and run fast. The pain has been excruciating. Claudia's friends continue to inspire and amaze me."

Friends and family gathered to unveil a flower memorial next to the fatal junction of Goat Road and Carshalton Road on Thursday March 26, which would have been Claudia's 18th birthday.

Chloe Shepherd, Mali Findlay and another friend of Claudia's at a memorial next to the fatal junction  

Following her death, Carshalton Road residents raised concerns about the safety of road at the junction with Goat Road junction, where a pensioner was also hit while crossing in 2013.

A memorial event will be held at the spot on Saturday afternoon, where friends will release balloons and lanterns in her memory.

Cookies will be sold to raise money for a memorial bench designed by Claudia's friends for the BedZED pavilion in Hackbridge where she played as a child.

Memorial bench design in memory of Claudia Landa 

Her best friend Emma Zdrzalka said: "There is no way of understanding why we're all still here and you're not. 365 days of begging for just one more conversation with you, and the biggest lie I've ever been told is that it gets easier with time."

Claudia, known as "Cloud" to her friends, attended Hackbridge Primary School and Carshalton High School for Girls before joining Richmond College. She was hoping to attend Manchester University to study English and drama, or criminology.

Tributes have flooded in from friends of Claudia Landa one year after her death: 

Tribute drawing of Claudia by Claire Eady

Claudia was a fresh face for me at first but then became  a true ,close friend. The first photo was the last photo  she took, it made me feel like our friendship was complete in a way..

The second photo is when me and a few other of clouds friends went to a festival to which she did buy a ticket for so we made a cloud figure with notes and memories and that was set alight on the last evening.

The final photo is one of my favorite spots in Richmond Park. I  took Claudia there for her photography work for college, and she took so many selfies it was unreal ! The most significant is her wavvy blue hair which I miss seeing walking down the corridors in college...

Tania Yusuf

Throughout the past year there have been so many things that have triggered a memory or that i have avoided in order not to trigger too sad a memory. These range from interviewing students wanting a place at University to a simple object, photo, place, word, phrase etc

At a university interview day, one girl's smile reminded me of Claudia and meant that i was incapable of asking my questions in that interview as i kept wishing that Claudia had had the chance to try for Manchester just as these students were being given an opportunity to pursue their dreams...

 Journeys are also a minefield, suddenly an image of going somewhere with or to meet Claudia will make me have to drive staring through the windscreen with tears in my eyes or dripping down my face.  The only alternative with trips to Devon has been to change my route...

BUT i am only an aunt, how has my sister Naomi managed to be so strong and brave? At Claudia's funeral she so bravely talked about "the Screaming, hideous empty vortex" that her life had become. (I still have a print out of her words on my desk.) 

How has Simon managed not only to get through the year but also take on a new job?  Where have they both found their strength? Credit must be given to their BEDZED community and work colleagues for playing such a significant and supportive part.  As for Claudia's brother, how can one so young manage to get through his teenage years after such an experience?  But he still knows how to have fun, how to be passionate about football, and how to make his older cousins laugh.  Claudia must be so proud of all three of you.  

Claudia's Aunty Canjie  

I'd do anything for one more nandos trip with you where we'd order 6 pots of mayo and take 4 home with us

I remember your 17th burthday where I baked a cake for you and a cake for another friend, but you persuaded me that it would be fine to eat both between us. absolutely no regrets.

There is no way of understanding why we're all still here and you're not

365 days of begging for just one more conversation with you, and the biggest lie i've ever been told is that it get's easier with time.

Emma Zdrzalka

I don't think I have gone through one day without thinking of Cloud, it's comforting knowing her name is literally in the sky and with you wherever you go.  

My favourite memory of Cloud are the small details about her, her laugh being the strongest. Whenever I listen to Joy Division for example I think of her, it makes me remember when we spent most of February last year discussing different bands and documentaries, films on them- The Fall, Joy Division even Kanye. 

I also cherish how much we related to one another. Her passion for photography for example is where me and Cloud related a lot to and how we properly started speaking at the beginning of college. I have a photograph which she took on an overpass near my house one day when we were walking back to mine. I remember that day distinctively as it was the first time she was using her film camera and she was teaching me how to use it.

We then went back to mine and, like we did nearly every time we went to my house on free periods, ate the majority of my fridge, watched vines and researched different universities we were interested in. I look at that photograph a lot and think despite my time with cloud was too short, I cherish every moment I did have with her. 

Chris Burrey 

The moment I met Cloud I knew I would like her. She had bright purple/pink hair and a huge smile. Cloud was one of those people who could make you laugh so easily. She was loving and caring and I knew I could count on her if ever I needed anything. I miss her so much, and she is always in my thoughts. 

Allegra Hunt-Wilson

It seems almost impossible to describe how loved you are Claudia. There aren't any words to describe just how missed you are by everyone who knew you, but despite you being taken from this earth too soon, it's incredible how you still live on in all of our lives. No one was more alive than you, even in your lowest moments you never failed to put a smile on everyone's face. We all love you Claudia, and you are missed more than you will ever know.

Clarissa Jeffery

Claudia was such a special person, she brought light to so many peoples' darknesses, including mine. 1 year on, and I still miss you so much. RIP Cloud xx

Helen Sychta

Been looking for you in the clouds for a whole year now.  You should probably just come and haunt us. Miss you much.  

Love from Becky, Ian and Flo. 

I had many funny crazy memories with Claudia ranging from frozen chips and Doritos to drama club.
I remember when her step dad Simon would make us do taste tests to see if diet drinks really tasked different from normal drinks. And Simon, Claudia and I would watch the X Factor.

She was always a caring character. In year 6 she used to pick me up from primary school as her school finished about 10 minutes before mine so we could cross the road to get home together. We also used to have conversations from our windows as mine looked onto her balcony and we would both be shouting. She was a very determined character and I've learned from that.

I miss her so much. I've seen how she has helped so many people and im proud to have known her and had the time with her that I had ! The thing I miss the most is just knowing she isn't a couple of doors down anymore. I can just call for her.

Chloë Shepherd 

Even a year on, everyone still thinks of Claudia and the massive impact she had on our lives, not a day goes by where someone doesn't mention her and that shows how much she was loved. It's still upsetting to know you're not here anymore, but I hope the skies are treating you well. Forever in my heart Cloud❤️

Emily Stanley

If you would like to add a tribute to Claudia, please leave a comment below.