The wife of a motorcyclist killed in a horrific road smash has spoken for the first time about how her family has coped with the tragedy, a year to the day since it happened.
David Roberts, 46, of Stanley, died on a notorious stretch of the A85 following a collision with a car near Comrie on August 22 2012.
His wife Morag, 46, a dentist in Perth, was left to care for their three children, Angus, 14, Kirsty, 13, and Catriona, 11.
“I’ve just had to get on with it because I’ve got the children,” she told The Courier. “I have had a lot of family support but I work, so you just have to get up and get out. There’s no point in sitting crying.
“I was off for two or three weeks after it happened but you get to the point where sitting at home is not very helpful. I’ve come away from it all thinking, ‘Things do happen to people. It’s not just me’.”
David, who was originally from Grangemouth, began biking in 2000 because it cut down his commute from Stanley to South Queenferry, where he worked as an electronic engineer.
Morag said: “He took it up because it made the commute over the bridge easier. I had concerns but he was an outdoors kind of person. He loved climbing too, so there was no point trying to stop him.”
His death has had a huge impact on the couple’s three children, each of them coping in different ways.
Morag said: “The girls are pretty good. They’re dealing with it, with the help of a lot of good friends and the grandparents, who are around a lot. It’s a close-knit community.
“My son Angus has been absolutely amazing. He’s a very sensible, mature boy. He tries to father the girls he’s got a lot of his dad in him.”
Last weekend the Perth Grammar School pupil completed climbs of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon with his father’s friends from their motorcycle club, the Bikers Snug.
Team Snug took on the challenge to raise £2,000 for the charity Riders for Health, which provides healthcare to rural African villages using motorcycles.
Angus said: “It was quite tiring to do all three in a weekend but it was a charity my dad liked, so we just decided to go for it and see how much money we could raise.
“Our target was £1,500 and we’ve already met that.”
Angus was only 13 when he lost his father but he didn’t take a single day off school in the weeks after the tragedy.
“I didn’t want to miss anything,” he said. “I just wanted to get straight back to it. I just sort of thought if I get on and do things it will take my mind off it.”
Mum Morag said: “Angus is a strong character. I’m so proud of him. He’s very sporty and was well up for the Three Peaks Challenge, which he completed in dreadful weather.”
David’s friends from the Bikers Snug have created a web page where people can donate to the Riders for Health charity which he cared so much about.
Stuart McNeill, who climbed the three peaks with Angus, said: “Dave was a massive part of the Snug bikers’ online forum and club.
“His loss has been keenly felt by all and hopefully this is the start of our efforts to keep Dave’s memory alive for years to come and provide much-needed support to a great cause that we know Dave supported.
“Of course keeping Dave’s memory alive is an easy task. He made a big and loud impression on all who met him and always went out of his way to help. He’ll not be forgotten easily. He’s very sadly missed but still doing good.”
To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/bikerssnug.