TRIBUTES have been paid to a vicar from Lincolnshire who has been killed in a car crash.

Mum-of-two the Reverend Penny George, 55, who was raised in Tattershall Bridge, near Horncastle, was a passenger in a red MG sports car when it was involved in a crash with a van.

The assistant priest at St Andrew's Church, in Abu Dhabi, was travelling on the M40 back to Buckinghamshire – where her daughter lives – from a classic car rally in Wales.

She was on holiday in Britain, during which she had planned to visit relatives in Lincolnshire.

Ms George, formerly Penny Compton, nee Packwood, moved to the county with her family from Hampshire in 1961.

Her father, Arthur Packwood, was appointed head teacher at Dogdyke County Primary School, in Tattershall Bridge, and over the years she, her sister and five brothers made up the core membership of the youth orchestra he formed.

She attended Sleaford High School For Girls and Boston College and married RAF bandsman David Compton.

One of her brothers, Patrick Packwood, 53, a civil servant who lives in Dunston, near Lincoln, said music, teaching and religion were the three main driving forces in her life.

"She was a very strong believer and she had already said when God felt her time was up and she had completed her innings, she would be going to a better place," said Mr Packwood.

"She had just been promoted to head of faculty over in the United Arab Emirates and things were going well in her life and she seemed very happy.

"She was over on a month's holiday and was planning to visit us here, but sadly she did not get that far."

Ms George trained as a teacher and worked in Middlesex. She got the calling and was a priest for ten years up until her death, working as a curate at St Barnabas, Northolt Park, in London, and as team vicar at St John's, in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

She separated from her husband in 2007 and has two grown-up children, Tim and Clare, and five grandchildren.

A statement issued on behalf of the Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, the Right Reverend Michael Lewis, reads: "Bishop Michael greatly regrets to announce the death of the Rev Penny George, who had the bishop's permission to officiate in the diocese and was, during the last year, a loved and valued assistant priest at St Andrew's, Abu Dhabi.

"Penny had a teaching post there. She took part in the diocesan synod in Cyprus in February and will be missed both in Abu Dhabi and by those who met her at Synod, as well as in Britain.

"May she rest in peace and rise in glory."

A 39-year-old man from Maidenhead was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed until October 1 following the crash on August 16.

Ms George's funeral service is in Hillingdon, Middlesex, tomorrow.