Family remembers ‘devoted husband’ who died in A605 lorry crash

The family of a 'devoted' husband, father, and grandfather have paid tribute to the man who died in a crash on Monday[1], July 14. Steven Bowden, 64, of Framlingham Road, Park Farm, Peterborough[2], was described as his children's "biggest cheerleader" and "their quiet protector". Mr Bowden was driving a white BMW 320 when he was involved in a crash with a Scania lorry[3] on the A605 between Elton and Peterborough at around 12:45pm on July 14.

The police are appealing for witnesses to the crash. The lorry then crashed into a red Ford Focus and a red Mercedes Vito, which then collided with a black Skoda Octavia. Mr Bowden was pronounced dead at the scene.

A woman in her 60s, who was the driver of the Mercedes, was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital[4] with serious injuries. In a statement, his family said: "It's not every day you meet someone who genuinely puts others first. In his case, it wasn't just a personality trait, it was practically a hobby.

If you needed help, he was there. If you didn't need help, he was still there, just in case. "He was a devoted husband to Ade, the kind who remembered anniversaries and could still recall what they both wore on their first date.

As a father to Samantha and Shaun, he was the kind of man who could fix anything, never the Wi-Fi though, but he tried. "His children knew him as their biggest cheerleader, their quiet protector, and the man who could make them laugh even when they were determined not to. He was also devoted grandfather to Riley, Sky and Peter."

The statement continued: "To his mum Shirley, he was a son who never forgot where he came from. He carried his family's values with pride and passed them on with grace. And to his friends, well, he was the one who always answered the phone, no matter the hour, and somehow made you feel better just by showing up.

"With his partner-in-crime, Buddy the dog, he'd claim the sofa like it was sacred ground. The two of them would sit there, side by side, giving you that look, the unmistakable 'this is a private cuddle session, and frankly, you're not invited'. "He had a knack for knowing when someone needed cheering up, and a talent for doing it with a well-timed joke or a perfectly brewed cup of tea.

His humour was dry, his generosity bottomless, and his ability to make everyone feel valued was nothing short of remarkable. "We'll miss his laugh, his wisdom, and his terrible singing in the car. We'll miss the way he made us feel like everything was going to be okay, even when it clearly wasn't.

And we'll miss the way he somehow managed to be the glue that held so many of us together." It concluded: "So, here's to the man who gave us everything, and asked for nothing, and somehow made selflessness look effortless. We'll always be together; you've left your mark on all of us in the best possible way.

Your spirit, heart, and soul lives on in our stories, our laughter, and everything we do. And honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way. "Rest easy, you wonderful, maddeningly thoughtful man.

You've more than earned it."

Anyone with dashcam footage or information should report it on the Cambridgeshire[5] Police website.

They can also call 101 quoting the reference 239 of July 14.

References

1. ^ man who died in a crash on Monday (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
2. ^ Peterborough (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
3. ^ driving a white BMW 320 when he was involved in a crash with a Scania lorry (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
4. ^ Addenbrooke's Hospital (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
5. ^ Cambridgeshire (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)