Mum's tribute to "loyal" sons (From Evesham Journal)

Mum's tribute to "loyal" sons

2:38pm Monday 19th February 2007

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A DEVASTATED Evesham mother today paid tribute to her "loyal" sons who died together in a car crash in Evesham yesterday.

John, 23, and 19-year-old Joe Sliwinski were travelling along Worcester Road away from the town when their blue VW Golf left the road and collided with a tree. Both young men were certified dead at the scene.

The accident happened just 24 hours before their mother, Mrs Joan Clear was due to fly out to Morocco on holiday with partner Steve Osborne.

"Thank God they were able to get hold of us before we left the country," she said today.

"John and Joe were very different in their approach to life but they were very fond of each other and extremely loyal.

One would never tell you what the other one had been up to and vice versa.

"John was very bouncy and outward-going but Joe was much quieter and preferred what he called people-watching'.

"Joe had many friends and, like John with his group of mates, will be sadly missed. Their only sister Rachel, who is quite a bit older than them, has been like a second little mum to them and can't stop crying.

"They were particularly well known in the Rynal Street area as that is where they mainly grew up.

"We had a bouncy castle in the garden and many of the children came in and played on it with John and Joe.

"There will be many people there who will be shocked when they hear what has happened."

John, of Durcott Road, and Joe of Barnards Close, both attended St Mary's infant school and Simon de Montfort Middle School. However, while John went on to Evesham High School, Joe went to Pershore High.

Both were keen members of Evesham Angling Club, fishing rivers, canals and lakes and John had competed in - and won - national angling championships.

John had been working as a mechanic at RK Services, auto engineers of Lower Leys, Evesham for just three weeks, having previously worked in similar positions in Pershore and Tewkesbury. He was very keen on his car and driving.

Joe, who played the guitar, was studying computer technology at Evesham College and was planning a career in the computer industry.

The Worcestershire coroner Victor Round will open and adjourn inquests into their deaths on Wednesday and the funerals are planned for the following Wednesday, February 28, at All Saints Church, Evesham.

Meanwhile, police were today still trying to establish the cause of the accident which occurred about 1.30am yesterday.

The road was closed for more than four hours while emergency services dealt with the incident and diversions were put in place.

Two fire crews from Evesham attended the scene but after the men were pronounced dead by paramedics they removed the bodies from the wreckage of the blue VW Golf in which the brothers had been travelling.

Police have appealed for witnesses who saw the accident or the vehicle being driven earlier to contact them.

"We are hopeful that there were other vehicles or individuals in the area at the time and that someone might have seen something that will help with the inquiry into these tragic deaths," said police spokesman Richard Bull.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 08457 444 888.

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