Tribute to Kirriemuir biker
heartbroken mum tells of son’s passion for cars and motorcycles
Published:
The heartbroken mother of a 24-year-old Angus man killed in a motorcycle accident has paid tribute to her son, saying “he just loved life”.
Construction worker Andrew Bell, known in the Kirriemuir area as Andy, was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident on Thursday.
His bike was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Zafira on the B957 Brechin road, two miles from Kirriemuir at about 6.25pm.
Mr Bell’s mother, Dorothy, a nurse at Balhousie Lisden Nursing Home at Kirriemuir, said her son had been passionate about cars and motorcycles since he was a boy, an interest he shared with his older brother, George.
Born at Forfar but raised at his family’s home near Glamis, Mr Bell was educated at Glamis Primary School and Webster High School, Kirriemuir. He left in fourth year after work experience with a local tyre-fitting company, where he made such a positive impression that he was offered a job.
He often rode around Angus but had been known to go as far afield as Inverness just for the drive. Mr Bell had only recently taken his Kawasaki motorcycle out of storage after the winter.
Mrs Bell also said her son had been proud of his first home, a rented cottage on Kinnordy Estate, near Kirriemuir, into which he moved just two months ago.
“When the boys were little their late dad Robert used to work on the car and since they were toddlers they’d be out helping him and taking an interest,” she said.
“He moved out not long ago and was so proud of his wee house. He was building a run for his German shepherd Tyson and he was going to take him when it was finished, but that wasn’t to be.”
Mrs Bell also said her son’s willingness to help others and turn his hand to anything made him popular with those who knew him, and the night before his death had been helping a family friend repaint her kitchen.
“He was never happy unless he was doing things,” she said. “He would work on a Saturday, do a lot of overtime and sometimes worked all night. If he had one job end he would get another one, and he never left a job with ill-feeling. I think he often talked them into giving him a job.
“He just loved life, was a party-goer and would go out in Kirriemuir and Forfar with his pals. He always had a smile on his face.”
Police are asking for anyone in the area at the time of the incident to contact them if they have any information about the accident.
“Officers would particularly like to hear from the rider of a yellow motorcycle that was immediately in front of the deceased’s bike just prior to the collision,” said a police spokesman. “It is possible this person and Mr Bell were travelling together.”
Anyone with information should call 0845 600 5705 or speak to any officer.
Meanwhile, the A94 Perth-Forfar road near Glamis Castle was closed yesterday morning following a collision between a motorcycle and a tractor.
The incident occurred at about 7.30am and the motorcyclist, who received a wrist injury, was taken to Whitehills Health Centre at Forfar.
A police spokesman said the road had been partially closed for a short period and was reopen by 9.30am.
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