Reay crash victim's family touched by response
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THE family of a young driver killed in a road accident outside Thurso have been touched by the enormous public support received following his death.
Derrick Milnes yesterday paid tribute to his son, Stewart, who died on Friday night when his car left the A836 Reay to Thurso road at Scrabster brae and hit a section of dry-stone dyke.
His death occurred on January 6 – the day 25 years ago his brother, Craig, was born but who sadly died just nine weeks later on March 13.
Mr Milnes said the 26-year-old, a community mental health nurse, “wanted to get involved in the local community”. He told the Caithness Courier Stewart “thoroughly enjoyed his work” and had “a real commitment to it”.
He described his son as a family person who was always there if somebody needed him.
Mr Milnes said he, his wife, Dawn, and three daughters – Anne Miller, Gail Taylor and Claire Ross – are touched by the number of people who have sent flowers and contacted them to express their condolences.
Stewart was on his way from his home in Reay, where he lived with his parents at Isauld Lodge, to Thurso to pick up his girlfriend when the crash happened about 6.45pm.
A colleague this week said his death was a “devastating blow to staff ? and patients across Caithness and Sutherland”.
Caithness locality general manager Pauline Craw was “very sorry” to hear about Stewart’s death and said he was “a highly respected member of the mental health team in Caithness and Sutherland”.
“Stewart was a valued and popular member of staff. It is tragic news and our thoughts and sympathies are with his family, friends and colleagues at this time,” she said.
Stewart joined North Highland Community Health Partnership (CHP) in March 2010 after graduating from Stirling University.
Teresa Green, who is service manager for community mental health and learning disabilities for North Highland CHP, said: “Everyone who came into contact with Stewart will have their own unique and very special memories of him, however, there are characteristics that are remembered by all who knew him.
“At work, Stewart always had a smile on his face and time for everyone he met. He was known for making people laugh, either with his practical jokes or his one-liners.
“Stewart was also recognised for his gentle, caring manner and his 100 per cent commitment to working with people experiencing mental health and
“Without question, he would go the extra mile for both patients and colleagues, often beyond the call of duty.
“He was a friend, as well as a colleague, to a lot of people and his death serves a devastating blow to staff and patients across Caithness and Sutherland.”
Hospital chaplain and counsellor John Craw held a support group for staff at the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso yesterday.
NHS Highland has also offered to set up a support group for staff based in Sutherland. And all staff who worked with Stewart are being offered one-to-one support.
A book of remembrance is being circulated among staff and will be given to his parents once completed.
Stewart joined Caithness West Community Council last month and agreed to become treasurer. His father had been secretary
George Carson, the chairman of Caithness West Community Council, offered his condolences and sympathy to the Milnes family. He said Stewart’s death would be keenly felt by the community council.
“We were looking forward to having a younger person on the community council. He was our youngest member and this will be a bit of a blow,” said Mr Carson.
Bob Earnshaw, a former chairman of Thurso Community Council who served on the Dounreay Stakeholder Group with Derrick Milnes, was shocked to hear of Stewart’s death.
“It is tragic news. Derrick and I knew each other since the inception of the group several years ago. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this sad time,” he said.
Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the accident which closed the road for more than five hours while investigations were carried out by Northern Constabulary’s road policing unit.
Stewart’s funeral service will be held at Ormlie rest rooms in Thurso on Saturday at 11am, while the burial will take place in Watten where his family lived for many years and where his late brother, Craig, is also interred.
