East Peckham pays tribute to Alan ‘Wobbly’ Hobbs after crash on A228 Boyle Way
An "amazing man" and "true gentleman" has been named as the victim of a fatal crash on a busy A-road before Christmas. The police, fire service and critical care paramedics were called to the A228 Boyle Way, East Peckham at 5pm on December 16.
A pedestrian, Alan Hobbs, died at the scene after being hit by a white Ford Transit van. Now villagers have paid tribute to the "much-loved member" of the community known as 'Wobbly' who lived in a houseboat off Yalding Marina,
He was on his way to the East Peckham Community Fridge when the tragedy occurred. His friend Coral, who saw 'Wobbly' three times a week said: "He was kind, considerate, funny and a true gentleman. "He didn't have a bad bone in his body.
Everybody who knew him absolutely loved him, he's so missed by many.
Picture: Google
"We're shattered by what happened. He's been such a true friend." Coral had known 'Wobbly' for over 35 years and described him as a "lovely" person.
She continued: "He never had anything.
He was always at the community fridge or the Paddock Wood food bank." She remembers that he used to love summers up the River Medway and would be up there all the time fishing, having "lovely fires, with music on and watching the boats going past". A fundraiser has been started to create something positive in his memory.
East Peckham Co-op and Shell Garage staff member, Claire Hughes, who served Alan for years, is raising money for the East Peckham Community Fridge. The initiative tackles food waste by distributing surplus food from supermarkets and visitors can get a bag-for-life full of food for GBP5.
Remembering the 59-year-old, she said: "The whole village is in shock. He was an amazing man.
He lived very simply, but he was loved. "Many of our village knew him or knew of him. He was such a lovely gentleman.
The whole village is in complete and utter shock that this happened. "He was always coming in the garage for years, daily. Him and his friend Andy would come in and buy their bits and pieces.
We'd always have a laugh and a joke and so many people knew him in the village.
"It's really shocked us all that it's one of our own. It's quite a close community here. "In times like this the village needs to pull together.
"We are fundraising for a charity that was close to his heart, a place that has supported Alan and his friends over the years. "All proceeds will go the Community Fridge in East Peckham."
People can donate in person at the Co-op in Branbridges Road and Pound Road. Nick Morgan, who runs the project which helps around 40 families a week, said the team were "so grateful" for the generous gesture.
He explained all the donations will go towards running the project and reducing food waste. Nick said: "Alan is much missed and will always be fondly remembered by all the Fridge Team and the wider community."
East Peckham parish councillor, David Seal, said: "Alan was the sort of person that made the Community Fridge worthwhile."
Although he only saw Alan for a short time on a Tuesday evening, he remembers him as being "always open to chat to others" and being "well-liked". He explained that when it was his turn to choose items from the fridge, he never took something he didn't need and didn't just take an item because it was there.
During an inquest opening into his death on December 29 at Oakwood House, assistant coroner Jyoti Gill told the court Alan had been walking the grass verge adjacent to the northbound carriage of Boyle Way when the collision took place. She said the driver remained at the scene and passed all preliminary tests.
The cause of death was given as catastrophic multiple injuries, and a full inquest was adjourned until June 12. Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit are carrying out an investigation and urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
Anyone with information should call 01622 798538 or email [email protected], quoting reference HW/MD/086/25.
CCTV and dashcam footage can be submitted here[1].