A headteacher killed alongside her seven-year-old daughter at their home was a teenage singing sensation, archive photos show. Emma Pattison won several competitions as a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Lincolnshire - and "stole the show" performing with her sister at one.
The Lincolnshire Echo carried a string of reports about the talented youngster - then known as Emma Kirk. She went on to become head teacher at Croydon High School before she joined Epsom College in September 2022.
Mrs Pattison, 45, was found dead along with husband George, 39, and daughter Lettie, seven, at their home at the school on Sunday, February 5. It is believed George shot them before taking his own life.
Lincolnshire Live reports that one photo from its archives showed a teenage Mrs Pattison all smiles after winning £20 in a singing competition in Skegness. In September 1993 it reported: "Well done to Emma Kirk, of Navenby, who entered East Lindsey District Council's weekly Star Search competition at the Festival Pavilion, Skegness, and ended up £20 better off.
"Emma (16) delighted the judges with her piano playing and singing. And although she was just pipped to the post by an 18-year-old singer from Grimsby, Emma was awarded the runners-up prize."
The following September, Emma and sister Debbie, then 15, "stole the show" at another talent competition, the newspaper reported. The Echo said on September 12, 1994: "Talented sisters Emma and Debbie Kirk have won a chance to pick up a major award after they stole the show at county resort.
"Emma (17) and Debbie, who today celebrates her 15th birthday, are hoping to achieve teenage stardom in two months' time. The sisters, from Navenby, earned top marks when they entered a national talent contest at the Embassy Centre in Skegness. The pair could be in line for a £2,000 prize if they reach the grand final of the British Resorts Association's Starsearch '94 competition in November."
The article said pianist Emma and singer Debbie performed a medley of Elkie Brookes which hit the right note with the judges. It added that they were due to return to Skegness to compete for a holiday prize and a place in the regional finals.
Emma told a reporter from the paper: "We want to be in the national round and we were very pleased to win the heats."
In May 1995, the sisters were also mentioned in the Grapevine round-up of community news in the Echo as they were involved in a CD of music and poetry. The report stated: "Sisters Emma and Debbie Kirk, both of Navenby, worked with district council music worker Paul Brown on a recording project that has culminated in a 23-track CD containing music, songs and poetry." The themes covered included the seasons, trees and earthquakes.
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Emma was educated at Kesteven & Sleaford High School, in Sleaford, from 1988 to 1994. Following her death, the school tweeted: "Our condolences go to the family, friends, colleagues & students of Emma Pattison (nee Kirk) Head of Epsom College and ex student of 1988-1994. Emma is remembered by classmates as a friendly, smiley student who had a talent for singing."
The family of Emma and Lettie Pattison paid tribute to them via Surrey Police on February 15. In a statement they said: "We, the family of Emma and Lettie, would like to express our deepest, heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming support we have received over the past 11 days.
"Thank you to the immeasurable number of people and institutions who have written messages, sent flowers, paid tributes, held vigils or otherwise taken time to remember Emma and Lettie. We would like to thank Surrey Police for their sensitive and thorough handling of the on-going investigation into this horrendous tragedy and to the Epsom College Community, Croydon High and Danes Hill schools for their invaluable support.
"Thank you also to the media who have, largely, respected our privacy at this difficult time: we ask that they continue to do so. To see the esteem in which Emma is held by all who knew her is an enormous comfort. She was everything one could hope for in a daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher and so much more.
"We are an extremely close family and family was at the centre of Emma and Lettie’s universe. The Epsom College Community had become part of that universe for them both. Seven-year-old Lettie was Emma’s pride and joy: an adorable, vibrant little girl with a compelling curiosity, a heart-melting smile and an intellect beyond her years.
"The two of them were inseparable and we take comfort in that they will remain so. Emma had a warm, welcoming smile and sparkling, blue eyes, full of optimism. Over the last eleven days we’ve noticed the sky has been bright blue, with at times a warm glow of pink."
