Yahoo News Aysha Frade: the first named civilian victim of Westminster attack 'was picking up her children from school'
One of the victims of Wednesday's London terror attack has been named as Aysha Frade, a 43-year-old British woman of Galician origin.
Mrs Frade was a married mother-of-two, according to Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia.
She was born in Britain and had a Portuguese husband called John Frade.
He, according to family, has said his life has "completely fallen apart".
His cousin said: "I can't even put it into words how he's [my cousin] feeling. His life's completely fallen apart because of what's happened. They've got young kids".
He told the Standard: "When I heard I was just absolutely shocked. I'm still just feeling terrible, it's a terrible thing to happen and you just don't expect it to happen so close to home in this way".
According to reports, she was leaving work at the DLD college near Westminster Bridge where she was a department head and taught Spanish, when she lost her life in the attack.
She is said to have been crossing the bridge to pick up her children, aged 8 and 11, from school.
Speaking outside the family's former house, neighbour Patricia Scotland said she had known John Frade all his life, adding that she had first met Aysha when they first started dating.
She added that the couple were a "lovely family" and had two young girls together.
"I've known them for forty years. She was such a kind lovely woman," she said.
"Now to hear this, it's a shock I tell you. The reality sank in.
"The last time I spoke to them was New Year and Christmas. I spoke to them on the phone, you know, to wish them well.
"I was going to give John a call this morning. We were neighbours from when John was a little baby, I've known him all his life.
"She was a lovely lady. I just can't believe what I'm hearing this morning."
Aysha Frade, one of the victims of the Westminster terror attack, was "a highly regarded and loved" member of staff at DLD College London, her principal Rachel Borland said.
Mrs Borland said in a statement: "We are all deeply shocked and saddened at the news that one of the victims yesterday was a member of our staff, Aysha Frade. All our thoughts and our deepest sympathies are with her family. We will be offering every support we can to them as they try to come to terms with their devastating loss. Aysha worked as a member of our administration team at the college. She was highly regarded and loved by our students and by her colleagues. She will be deeply missed by all of us."
She had always lived in London, La Voz reported, where her parents met.
Her father was of Cypriot origin and her mother was born in Betanzos in northwestern Spain.
According to La Voz the woman often spent her holidays with her family back in the town.
Her elder sisters run a language academy in Betanzos and she has many other friends in the town.
How the Westminster attack unfolded
Andres Hermida, a local councillor in Betanzos, said: "Betanzos has suffered a terrible blow because of the scourge of terrorism.
"Our most sincere condolences to the family of Aysha, a woman originally form Betanzos murdered in London."
A friend in Betanzos said: "She loved coming here and spending time with friends and relatives."
A cousin of Aysha Frade has told a Spanish radio station how the family in Betanzos, northwestern Spain, received the awful news of her death on Thursday evening from Silvia and Michelle, Aysha’s two sisters who live in the Galician town.
“I am crushed; we never expected anything like this. Yesterday I got a call from Silvia as I was looking after one of Michelle’s children at my house. She said "something terrible has happened. Aysha has been killed’.”
The news that Aysha was dead was confirmed to the family by her husband in London, John Frade.
“She was run over by a car and killed, Silvia told me.”
Vigi Sawdon, a former neighbour of Mrs Frade in Notting Hill where the Frade family used to live, said: "If you can imagine one of the most upstanding members of society, that was her.
"She was just a wonderful mother and a lovely person."
Ms Sawdon described her as "one of the most charming" people, and said her children were "adorable", adding: "It's just so terribly sad." She said she knew they had moved and that they were "very happy".
The victim’s two sisters were looking into getting flights to London to be with Aysha’s mother, Ana told Cope radio.
People in Betzanos held a minute's silence outside the down hall at midday in memory of Mrs Frade and other victims of the attack.
Mayor Ramon Garcia said the town near the Galician city of La Coruna was "terribly shocked" at the news.
He added: "This is a small town and we all know each other here."
As well as the minute's silence, the town has also declared two days of mourning.
One local said Aysha - the daughter of a Cypriot dad and Spanish mum whose birth name was Aysha Ahmet Caldelas - had been born in Britain but would often holiday in Betanzos around the time of its annual festival.
The two celebrations she is thought to have attended on a regular basis both take place in August.
At the festival of San Roque, a large paper balloon is launched. Later in August decorated boats sail along the Mandeo river.
Tributes poured in on social media after friends learned of her death.
Ramon Tombo Bastida wrote: “Wonderful lovely woman. We will all sadly miss you. RIP Aysha.”
Begonia Lopez Martinez said: “There is a new angel in the sky… One amazing, extraordinary angel… Going to miss you!!! RIP lovely & wonderful Aysha.”
Westminster terror attack shooting in pics
