Tributes to 'lovely lad' Joshua Hamilton killed in crash

POLICE have named a 20-year-old motorcyclist who was killed following a collision with a car.

Joshua Hamilton, of Priory Road, Abbey Hulton, died yards away from his home on Thursday afternoon.

Now friends of the popular construction worker have paid tribute to a ‘friendly and outgoing lad’.

Couple Malcolm and Kazma Bates, who own the News Shop, in Greasley Road, Abbey Hulton, had known Joshua since he was a baby.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

And a year ago the couple, who have two children, rented a flat above their business to the former Aynsley School pupil.

Mother-of-two Kazma, aged 56, said: “He was a lovely lad who was totally harmless.

“He has never been one for going out up town or things like that. He was happy to be at home.

“I know he liked his drums and he had the garage sorted out for him to play in there.”

Malcolm, aged 58, said: “As soon as he rented out the flat he cleared out the garage and was telling me all about the things he wanted to do with it. When he lost his job he had to move back home.

“Nobody has a bad word to say about him. He was always friendly and polite.”

Kazma added: “His mum used to work here too so we did used to see a lot of him.

“He really was just a cracking lad, and everyone is in shock.”

Joshua, who also studied at Mitchell High School, died after the bike he was riding collided with a blue Toyota Yaris being driven by a woman in her 20s.

Flowers have been left at the scene of the collision at the junction of Priory Road and Holehouse Road.

Shaun Baskerville, aged 38, a machine driver, of Eaveswood Road, said: “Josh was a good lad.

“He was outgoing and everybody knew him.

“They are a really nice family and I know they never got any trouble from Josh.

“Everybody is just gutted about what has happened. He was such a nice, pleasant lad.”

Mother-of-two Alison Stackhouse, aged 46, of Holehouse Road, said: “This has come as a real shock and it happened literally on our doorsteps.

“I go to Slimming World with his mum and I know everyone there is there for the her when she needs us.”

Police closed part of the two roads until around 5.15pm on Thursday while they dealt with the incident.

Officers are investigating the crash and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Matt Lovatt at Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 426 of September 13.