'She was remarkable': Royal Exchange Theatre pays tribute to deputy chair Kate Vokes killed alongside son in avalanche tragedy

Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre has paid tribute to its deputy chair Kate Vokes who was killed alongside her son in an avalanche tragedy in the French alps just days after Christmas.

Kate, 54, and her son Archie Vokes, 22, lost their lives after the avalanche swept through an off-piste section of the resort of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains near Mont Blanc on December 28.

Ms Vokes was deputy chair of the Royal Exchange Theatre, chair of the Oglesby Charitable Trust, a director of their family-owned property company Bruntwood and a trustee of charities Shared Health and Focused Care.

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Her son Archie was a personal trainer at Form in Manchester, and in the previous year had achieved his level one ski instructor qualification in Canada.

The pair had been skiing with other family members at the time of the tragedy, according to the Bonneville public prosecutor’s office.

In a public statement posted to social media shared by the Royal Exchange Theatre on Sunday (December 31), Kate was remembered as a 'remarkable woman' and a 'tireless supporter' of the venue.

It read: "We are absolutely devastated to hear the news of the death of our deputy chair Kate Vokes and her son Archie in such tragic circumstances. Kate was our dear friend, colleague and tireless supporter. She was remarkable. Our love and thoughts are with her family at this incredibly sad time."

Carl Austin-Behan, the LGBTQ+ adviser to Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and former Lord Mayor also paid tribute on social media, penning: "Absolutely shocked, heartbroken and devastated. Kate Vokes and her son Archie were both so beautiful, Kate was involved in so many