My life came to an abrupt halt on 10th May 201,5 when my 65-year old wife, Glo, and 36-year-old daughter, Dawn, were killed in a crash whilst on holiday in Kent. 

When I got home, family and friends rallied around to try to comfort me, but they really had no idea of what I was going through, just as previously I’d been the same if someone had lost a loved one.  Consequently, despite their good intentions, I often felt lost, lonely and in despair, despite my strong Christian faith. 

My FLO suggested that I go to RoadPeace’s annual remembrance service and it was there that I learnt about RoadPeace and met others who had lost loved ones in crashes.  

A few months later several of us including, Jane, Lucy, Elaine and Sue had a meeting in Moseley, which was followed by regular monthly ones and it was from these that our West Midlands Group grew into what it is today, which now includes our regular meetings and annual remembrance service at St. Martin in the Bull Ring, as well as campaigning for safer roads. 

At our regular meetings we were able to tell each other how we really felt, sometimes good, sometimes bad, talking to others who had also lost loved ones and who understood, and really knew what devastation that loss has caused and the loneliness we have to endure.  We would cry or laugh together, giving each other, the comfort we needed so much. 

As time went on, our friendships grew and eventually we weren’t just friends, we became family, and that is what RoadPeace is, it’s a family where we listen to one another, laugh, cry, comfort, sit alongside, sometimes saying nothing, just being there and holding hands or giving a reassuring hug, all the time knowing some of what the other person is going through.  I say, knowing some, because we can never know exactly how the other person is feeling.  RoadPeace may be a family that we didn’t want because of what we had to go through to join it, but it certainly is the family we truly need. 

Updated on: 11 July 2025