Tributes paid to talented Oswestry chef in horsebox crash tragedy
A Shropshire motorcyclist who died when he was involved in a collision with a horsebox was a talented chef who had worked at one of the region's top hotels.
Steve Jones, 27, who had been working as a sous chef at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa in Llanwddyn until two weeks ago, was seriously injured in the accident on the A49 just north of Craven Arms.
Mr Jones, from Oswestry, died in hospital on Wednesday, five days after the accident which happened at about 7pm on Friday.
Today, the hotel's operations manager Anthony Rosser, said staff had been left shocked by his death.
He said: "He was a very fine young man – a good egg. We're all rather shocked and sad. He was with us for a couple of months. He was a charming young man and a good chef with good personal standards and a bright future."
Former colleague Simon Hough added: "Rest in peace Steve, what a chef you turned out to be. I'm proud to have once cooked beside you and to have called you my friend.
"We've all lost a true friend but heaven's gained an angel. God only takes the best."
Friends have taken to social media to pay tribute. Ffee Lewis, from Meole Brace, wrote on Facebook: "Steve, you were a pleasure to know and have some wonderful happy memories of your happy cheery self, ambitious and so caring and thoughtful, you've made so many happy memories with all those who were lucky enough to know you."
Mererid Wilkinson added: "Such a sad day, can't imagine not ever seeing you again. You were hilarious and always so happy, take care up there buddy. We will all miss you so much and will never let a day go by that we don't think of you."
Long-time friend Ross Palmer said: "Gotta thank you for all the memories we had growing up playing in a band, staying up late for the basketball every year and all the nights out we've had, and for helping me out when I had nowhere to go. You did a lot for me.
"I really don't know how to feel right now. Rest in peace, Steve, until we meet again."
Other friends described Mr Jones's kind and happy personality, calling him a "really sound lad" and "such a respectful person".
Shropshire's coroner John Ellery has been informed of the death but a date for the opening of the inquest has not yet been set.
Mr Jones had been riding his Suzuki GSF 600 motorbike towards Shrewsbury when he collided with the Iveco horsebox.
A West Mercia Police spokesman said Mr Jones had been airlifted to the Royal Stoke Hospital after receiving a blood transfusion in Shrewsbury, but died on Tuesday evening.
