Happy birthday Lee!

The Welshpool area has been praised for its incredible compassion by the mother of a young man who was tragically killed in a motorbike accident last year.

Lee Ferguson was just 26 when his bike collided with a vehicle close to the golf club entrance on his way back from Barmouth, and today would have been his 28th birthday.

His family were planning to make the trip to Welshpool from the West Midlands, where Lee was also living with his fiancé and two-year-old son, but the English lockdown heartbreakingly put paid to that.

His mother, Emma Butler, asked for anyone passing the location to remember her son, and the wonderful people of our area went one better and covered the spot with flowers, balloons and cards.

This picture was captured by Rory Sheen, from the golf club, who said people had been paying their respects throughout the day.

The response has been warmly received by Emma who told us: “I can’t always get to my phone as I am a carer but when I have today it has been crazy.

“On behalf of Lee and his family I just want to say a massive thank-you to everyone that has visited the spot today and made sure Lee was not alone.

“We have been inundated with messages and I just wish I could see everyone personally to say thank-you. It means so much to us to see this happen.

“You have made such a heartbreaking day just a little more bearable knowing that Lee is in your thoughts. I’ve managed not to cry since I got up this morning but seeing all the beautiful flowers and photos people have sent me I can no longer hold back my tears.”

Earlier this week, Emma told us: “Lee was a lively, outdoor, young man who loved life and loved to be outside either on his motorbikes or mountain bike with his friends.

“Sadly this journey was too far and he never made it home.”

Emma can be reached at emma.butler77@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to send a message of support.