Friends pay tribute to multi-talented sports star who died in crash

SPORTSMEN wore black arm bands to honour their rugby-loving friend who died in a car accident.

Andy McQueen, aged 22, was killed last month near Durban, South Africa, where he was working as an assistant manager at Unilever.

Pictured with one of the cups presented in memory of Andy McQueen, inset, are old Abbotsholme football team captain Brandon Ip, headteacher Steve Fairclough and Andy's sister Victoria.
Left: Andy McQueen's old classmates Tom Robinson and Dan Mitchelmore speak at the memorial service at Abbotsholme. Right: Andy's father Jim McQueen plants a cherry tree at the school.

Abbotsholme school footballers and netballers playing on Saturday wore special tributes on their sleeves in memory of their friend.

Two silver cups presented to the winning captains were dedicated to Andy by headteacher Steve Fairclough.

Hundreds gathered at a service held at the Rocester school on the same day.

Old classmates Tom Robinson, Dan Mitchelmore, Simon Barber, Laura Gould, Hannah Carrington and James Herbert spoke about what he had meant to them.

A rousing rendition of Jerusalem was followed by a slide show including pictures of Andy's school years.

A cherry blossom tree was planted.

Andy's father, Jim McQueen, felt the service was a fitting tribute, particularly because it was designed by young people.

Mr McQueen, a management consultant from Marchington Cliff, said: "The day was very well supported by his school and university friends, peer groups and younger people who admired Andrew and looked to him as a role model.

"We found it very moving to hear his friends talk about him in a positive way.

"It wasn't about mourning him. It was to celebrate and highlight his multi-talented nature.

"He could swing from leading a rugby team to singing in a choir and playing violin in a string quartet to climbing mountains."

A funeral was held on Friday, in the chapel at Smallwood Manor, the prep school where Andy had sung as a chorister.

The service was led by The Reverend Jenny Richardson and many Abbotsholme students joined Andy's family, including his mother Tor McQueen, and friends to pay personal tributes.

Mr Fairclough said he was proud of the "fantastic" turnout and behaviour of the young people.

He said: "We were so pleased we were joined by so many of Andy's wider family, both for the service and for the events which followed.

"Andy McQueen was a very special young man. In his all too short life he had already achieved much and was seen wherever he went as a force for good.

"Everyone thought well of him, and he was greatly loved by his many friends at Abbotsholme, both pupils and staff."

An inquest into Andy's death is expected to be held at a later date in this country.