A FAMILY is in mourning after a devoted mother of five children died suddenly at the age of 40.

The death of Helen Calcutt, nee Horrocks, after a stomach complaint, has shattered the lives of her family and many friends.

Colleagues at the Cumberland Retirement Home in Herne Bay where she took up a post as a carer only a few weeks ago have also paid tribute to her.

Mrs Calcutt leaves five daughters, aged between 10 and 19, and her parents Molly and Richard Peter Horrocks, who live in Sunnyhill Road, Herne Bay.

Mr Horrocks said: “This is a complete shock to us. Helen was an outgoing girl, so full of life.

"Always look on the bright side of life’ was her theme tune. She had lots of friends in Herne Bay and Canterbury.”

Mrs Calcutt, who lived in William Street, Herne Bay, had said she was feeling better after a bout of enteritis when she was struck down with stomach pain on December 22.

She was still in pain next morning, so paramedics took her to the QEQM hospital in Margate. Doctors treated her through the day but she took a turn for the worse in the evening and died at 10.30pm on December 23.

“It was all so sudden, we can’t believe it,” Mr Horrocks said.

Mrs Calcutt attended Diocesan and Payne Smith Primary School and Geoffrey Chaucer School, both in Canterbury.

In her late teens, she met her former husband, soldier Simon Calcutt, who was stationed at Howe Barracks in the city.

Mrs Calcutt worked as a carer for elderly people when she was not a full-time mother to her daughters. "Her girls were everything to her,” said Mr Horrocks. “She devoted her life to them.”

Mrs Calcutt and L Cpl Calcutt divorced and she and her daughters moved to Herne Bay in 2005.

Neil McNeill, owner of the Cumberland Retirement Home, said: "Helen was an experienced carer and knew the job well. She got on with all the staff and was very kind to the residents.”