TRIBUTES have been paid to "real people person" Simon Lane, who died this week following a crash on a road near Wellington.

Mr Lane, aged 54, died at the scene shortly after his car collided with a lorry on the A38 neat Whiteball at about 1pm on Tuesday (October 8).

The businessman, who was married with two daughters, was well known in the Taunton and Wellington area.

He and his brother Graham were previously directors of the former Taunton-based Bulldog Buckle Company.

Mr Lane served for a period as business development manager of On Your Bike, also based in the county town, a charity selling, servicing and repairing bicycles which trains unemployed people in its bike workshops.

More recently, Mr Lane was a director at property company Stopwatch Developments Ltd.

Co-director Sam Elliot-Smith said: "Simon was a talented and creative property entrepreneur, inspiring and influencing the lives of everyone he met and worked with.

"A real people person, Simon consciously spent time talking and listening with a purpose, depositing value, good humour and encouragement as he went.

"As such, his network of family, friends and business contacts is vast and wide and the collective loss is far-reaching and will be enduring.

"My deepest condolences go out to his family and all those who knew him well. Rest in peace my friend."


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Richard Nelson, staff mechanic at On Your Bike, who worked with Mr Lane for a time, said: "He was a great guy to work with, always good for a laugh, really good fun. My condolences go out to his family."

Hockey-loving Mr Lane was also the welfare officer at Fox's Hockey Club, in Wellington. The club is preparing a statement.

Club member Trevor Debenham said: "Simon was one of the first members at the hockey club and I remember partnering him in defence when I played my first game."

Club chairman Marc Box said: "Simon was one of the founding members of Wellington Fox’s hockey club.

"Although Simon has not played for a while due to work commitments and injuries he would always like to know how the club was progressing, offer advice on how we could move the club forward and show a great interest in the development of the juniors.

"It was always a pleasure to see Simon around the town and our conversations would always be a joy to have.

"The club wish to send its condolences to Simon’s family on the loss of a fantastic man."

Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone who may have dashcam footage of the collision on the hill near the Beambridge Inn.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting reference 0445 of October 8.