Hamilton dad (39) killed in motorcross bike accident

Dec 3 2009 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Hamilton dad who died in a freak motocross accident in the Highlands last weekend.

Keen motorcyclist Walter Young (39) suffered fatal injuries as he performed a routine jump on his bike on Saturday at Balnagall Farm, near Tain.

Police and an air ambulance crew worked for half an hour to try to save Walter but he died at the scene.

A post-mortem is to be carried out this week to determine the exact cause of death.

Walter’s funeral will take place at Kingdom Hall, New Park Street, Hamilton, on Saturday at 10.30am.

He is survived by his wife Adele (38) and eight-year-old son Nathan, a pupil at St John’s Primary in Hamilton.

A former pupil of Hamilton Grammar School, Walter owned his own industrial cleaning business, Young’s Cleaning Services, and was well-known and liked throughout the area.

He was a dedicated motocross fan and made many friends across Scotland through his love of the sport.

At their Clearfield Avenue home this week, his heartbroken wife Adele told the Advertiser that Walter had been involved in the sport for 26 years and was always safety-conscious.

She said: “He was always cautious when it came to it and he never took chances. He taught most of his friends how to ride as well and was always going on at them to wear their body armour.

“It is rare that anyone dies at motocross. Walter knew what he was doing when he was on the track and he took every precaution.

“He had been doing it since he was 13 and was on the track almost every weekend.

“We think he came over the jump and hit a bit of softer sand and came off the bike.

“He didn’t usually go to the course in Tain but normally went to another near Dunblane. But due to the heavy rain, that track was waterlogged so they made the trip north.”

Adele described her husband as “unbelievable” and a “people person”.

She added: “We all thought he was indestructible. If anyone ever needed help, he would give it to them. He was just so generous and welcoming. He always gave people second chances.

“Walter was always playing jokes and having a laugh. Everybody loved him. He had a great rapport with people, whoever they were, and he got away with joking in a way that others didn’t.

“He was a brilliant dad. He used to take Nathan to bed at night and tell him jokes. Nathan asked me who’s is going to tell him jokes now. That’s who he was; he loved to make you laugh.”

Walter’s father-in-law Neil Fotheringham told the Advertiser of the many visits by family and friends to the house since the tragic accident.

He said: “He was a very popular man, but I didn’t know the half of it until I saw the amount of people who have arrived to pay their respects.”