Teacher couple die in holiday accident in Greece
BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
Two teachers married just two years ago have died after their buggy plunged down a ravine while they were on holiday in Greece.
Milly and Toby Savill were on a jaunt on the island of Santorini, south-east of Athens, when their vehicle reversed over a cliff edge and fell more than 600 feet to the ground below.
The couple had hired 800cc motor for a three hour trip over the Profitis Ilias mountain on the Aegean island, on April 13.
Toby was driving when he was trying to manoeuvre it but miscalculated and there was no barrier to prevent them going over.
Mr Savill, 26, taught history at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton while Mrs Savill, 25, worked at St Anne’s Catholic primary school in Vauxhall.
Mrs Savill’s father Steve Coulson, vicar of St Mark’s Church in Kennington, said: “Milly and Toby were married in August 2017 and were utterly devoted to one another.
“Their families are so proud of them, and although devastated, we are comforted by having shared so many wonderful times of love and joy together.
“Toby and Milly were passionate about their Christian faith, and we are being sustained by the same sure hope of Easter Resurrection.”
Mr Savill started work at the Brixton school in September shortly after qualifying and was already popular with students and staff, Principal Tim Dainty said: “Everyone here at Evelyn Grace Academy is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Toby Savill and his wife, Milly.
“Understandably, this news has come as a real shock to us all and so we will be working with counsellors to support those staff and students who require it at this difficult time.
“Toby joined our school in September 2018 as a newly qualified teacher of history and quickly established himself as a very dedicated and passionate educator. “His enthusiasm was infectious.
He had a very strong relationship with his students and was extremely well-respected by his fellow staff members. “He will be greatly missed by one and all.”
Milly’s head teacher Catherine Davis said: “Mrs Savill was a dearly, much loved teacher and member of staff at St Anne’s. “Such young lives cut short when so young can’t be understood, apart from maybe the belief that Milly and Toby’s share of god’s work had, in his eyes, been completed and he was ready to welcome them into his kingdom.”
Dulwich & West Norwood MP Helen Hayes tweeted:
“My thoughts with all at @ARKEvelynGrace on the devastating loss of teacher Toby Savill & his wife Milly, a teacher in Vauxhall.”
Emergency services were called to the incident at around 2.30pm on Sunday but struggled to reach the couple in the remote region.
Eight firefighters in two vehicles attended and the couple’s bodies were eventually removed from the ravine after being declared dead at the scene.
Her sister Joanna Coulson wrote on Facebook:
‘The joy from your wedding is just a taste compared to the joy you must be experiencing in Heaven right now. ‘Whilst still surreal, we grieve at our loss of Milly and Toby who were the happiest couple with genuine love for every person that was part of their lives.
“Our only comfort is in knowing that you are having the best party with Jesus right now and one day we will join you too. We love you both so much.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the deaths of the two Britons on Wednesday.
A spokesman said: “Our staff are assisting the families of two British people who have died on the island of Santorini and are in contact with the Greek authorities.”
Profitis Elias’ peak stands at 1,853ft above sea level and is the highest point on the island.
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