Again: anyone found that 'hangovers and boyfriends' article? The last thing I want to read as it seems the final slithers of information on Grace. Even a PM. After that I can close this chapter. Thanks guys.
Here are the main facts from the paywall article. They have changed the headline to 'Brightest star in Heaven', which is much more respectful than the previous one. I have paraphrased and not quoted anything directly, so I hope that is ok:
- Grace was born in Brentwood on 2nd December 1996. She was the third child of David and Gillian Millane and their only daughter. She had a happy, healthy childhood and did not have any illnesses or operations. Her father ran a successful asbestos-removing business. The family moved to their home in the Essex village of Ramsden Bellhouse when Grace was ten.
- Grace went to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Stanford-Le-Hope, then the all-girls Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, before attending the selective St Thomas More High School for sixth form.
- The Millane family were close and Grace had lots of cousins. The family held garden parties in the summer, went on holidays in Europe and decorated the front of the house with a large tree at Christmas. Grace was particularly close to her mother – her father described them as ‘good friends’, and had a good relationship with her brothers, who she often had 'banter' with.
- Grace loved music and went to the V Festival in Essex. She played hockey and joined the Thurrock Hockey Club at a young age. She was a talented artist and one of her artworks was exhibited at London's Mall Galleries. Her chaplain at school said she was a warm and friendly student, with a bright personality that drew people in. During high school and for the first year of university, she had a boyfriend named Matt Gadsden. Her father said they had a nice relationship but decided to go their own ways.
- Grace described travelling as her 'passion'. She visited Iceland with friends in February 2013 and went to Los Angeles in January 2015. In March 2018, she went on a trip with university friends to Rimini in Italy.
- In 2015, Grace moved to the University of Lincoln to study for a degree in advertising and marketing. Living three hours away from home, she enjoyed university life and spent her free time going on hockey tours and partying at student club nights. She often posted on social media about missing her dogs, having hangovers and falling asleep at her desk. She was open with her friends, discussing relationships and sexual preferences.
- Grace was hardworking and keen to make money. In the summer of her first year at university, Grace had a job as a lifeguard at Camp America in Pennsylvania. She spent three months there and her colleagues spoke of how funny she was, often having chats by the pool. During this time she visited amusement parks, helped children make friendship bracelets and explored the area. She often said she missed her family and dogs and contacted home whenever she could. She had a brief relationship with a boy at camp but did not stay in touch with him. In the summer of her second year at university, she temped in her father's office.
- Grace graduated from the University of Lincoln in September 2018. She was looking forward to having a career but first wanted to travel the world. She was most excited about visiting New Zealand, as she loved nature and wanted to see the mountains. She had a boyfriend who she had been with for a year, but they broke up as neither wanted a long-distance relationship. In the weeks before she went travelling, Grace donated her long hair to the Little Princess Trust, which provides wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair.
- She left for a solo year-long trip on 26th October, saying goodbye to her family at London Heathrow before boarding a flight to South America. Her trip started with a group tour in Peru before she travelled to Bolivia and flew from there to New Zealand. After New Zealand, she planned to visit Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. She was due to arrive back in the UK on June 26th so that she could attend her brother Michael's wedding in August. After some time at home, she then planned to travel to North America to visit family.
- From the moment she left, Grace kept in touch with her family through WhatsApp, text messages, Facebook and Instagram. She told them she loved hiking to Machu Picchu. On November 20th, she reached New Zealand and visited the Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga. She had a close relationship with her two-year-old niece, Harper and sent photos of toys and clothes she had bought for her. On November 29th, she checked into Base Backpackers Hostel, planning to stay until December 8th. Fellow travellers remember has as a nice, normal girl who was looking forward to her birthday and her trip to South Island.
- Grace’s family last heard from her on December 1st, before she was murdered. With her home community in shock, Grace’s father and uncle Martin brought her body home. Hundreds attended her funeral, where the congregation sang ‘Amazing Grace’ and her father and two brothers were pallbearers. The nearby town of Wickford set up a memorial to Grace and a candlelight vigil was held, with mourners lining the streets. Her family have since raised funds for White Ribbon, a charity which aims to end male violence against women.
- Quizzes, Soul nights, and charity hockey matches have been held in Grace’s memory. LL Loves, Grace’s favourite jewellery brand, created bracelets and earrings in her name to raise money for charity. Thurrock Hockey Club also has a Sunshine Shield, donated by Grace’s family, to reward players for showing the positive qualities that represent their daughter. The Millanes also set up the Love Grace project, where handbags containing toiletries and makeup are donated to victims of domestic violence.
- Grace's brother Michael married his wife Victoria in August, with their daughter Harper as a flower girl. The family felt Grace’s absence but hope that her memory will live on in the form of donations to White Ribbon and the Love Grace project. The family home is a five-minute walk away from St Mary the Virgin Church, where Grace is buried. A heart-shaped stone at her grave reads ‘Grace, Brightest star in Heaven.’
