Tributes to 'lovely chap' Ollie
MORE than a thousand people have paid emotional tributes to a talented young guitarist who lost his life in a car crash at the weekend.
Ollie Naismith, from Looe, died after his car left the A38 near Saltash on Sunday morning.
The 19-year-old's devastated father John told how the family had been left "heartbroken" by the tragedy.
But he said he was "staggered" by the amount of tributes that had flooded both Ollie's Facebook page and a memorial group on the website, which has been joined by more than 1,100 of his grieving friends.
Ollie, a former Looe Community School pupil, was enjoying a year out, having completed a national diploma in music practice and performance at Truro College in the summer. A keen surfer and football fan, he was known by most for his guitar skills, which he had learnt from the late Bodmin musician Al Hodge.
Former bandmates and colleagues at the Spar stores where he worked were also left devastated by the news.
Ollie leaves behind his police sergeant father John, mother Maxine and younger sister Tori.
Adding her own tribute on Facebook, Mrs Naismith wrote: "Goodnight my beautiful boy.
"I am heartbroken. I love you so much."
Bill Walker, programme team leader for performing arts at Truro College, said: "Ollie came to us with an established ability on guitar and proved to be an outstanding player in his college band.
"He was very well respected by all who knew him and the music staff are shocked and very saddened by this loss."
Sam Tamlin, owner of the Spar stores in Princes Square and Bay View Road, where Ollie had worked for over a year, added: "Everybody is just in shock. He was a lovely chap and everyone here liked him."
Ollie, who had considered becoming an RAF pilot, was a fan of rugby, tennis and cricket, and had played for Looe Juniors Football Club. His blue Peugeot 206 left the Westbound carriageway at the Latchbrook estate, close to the Carkeel roundabout, at around 8.30am on Sunday. The only occupant of the car, he was pronounced dead at the scene, and police say no other vehicle is believed to be involved.
3 Comments
by Eileen Mitchell, Treburley, Launceston
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 10:36PM
“My heart goes out to you John, Maxine, and Tori, Ollies family. I did not know Ollie but I have friends that did. Ollie was by all accounts a very special young man and loved by a lot of people. 9 years after Jacqueline and Lianne were taken from us, their friends still remember and keep in touch. Ollie too will never be forgotten because his friends will never forget him. Looe has a very special young community. My heart felt thoughts to you all.”
by Karen Cox, Holywell Bay
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 3:03PM
“As a Mom I know the devastation of having the knock on the door. My son was killed in March 2005 aged 20 in a car crash and was also doing a music degree at Truro college. Like Ollie my son Chris was also an amazingly talent musician. I just want to send my deepest sympathy to Ollie's family and let them know that they are not alone in their grief.”
by Mandy, Oxford
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 12:49PM
“The family have my sympathies. I have also have a 19 year old son who has just completed a national music diploma course at Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, and his prefered musical instrument is the guitar. He is currently on a year out to promote his band. These yound people are hugely talented, so this is not only a loss to the family but potentially to anyone who has anything to do with music too.”