TRIBUTES have been paid to four friends who lost their lives at a notorious Wirral black-spot.
John Aston, 19, of Liverpool Road, Neston, Eddie Smith, 19, Michaela Favager, 19, and Gillian Fowle, 43, from Neston, were killed instantly when their Vauxhall Tigra hit a tree on the Chester High Road A540 at Neston.
Ms Fowle worked at Martins newsagent, in Allport Lane, Bromborough, and knew the three through her part- time work at The Brewers Arms pub, in Neston.
Peter Sinnott, manager at the newsagent, said: “She was a cracking lady, very chatty and bubbly and great with the customers.
“She was texting the young girl who died on the day they went out. They were organising the night and when they would meet up.
“Gill brought one of her daughters here for work experience, she had two, Chloe and Charlotte and a son.
“She was a keen horserider.
“Her workmates and the customers are devastated. She had recently been looking to change her evening hours in the pub and that was what freed up her Saturday for the night out.
“She will be sorely missed.”
Beccy Plumley, 21, worked with John Aston at the Brewers Arms for three years.
She said: “As soon as news of the crash started to reach people, everybody started texting each other.
“Neston is very close-knit, so it wasn't long before I learnt the terrible news. I knew them all and was devastated by the news.
“I still don't think it has sunk in for most people.
“I knew John the best as we worked together at the Brewers Arms before I was made redundant earlier this year.
“He started off collecting glasses as he wasn't old enough to work behind the bar. He was a brilliant laugh.
“I think most people who went to the Brewers Arms went to have a laugh with him.
“He was full of life and I know it may sound clichéd but he really was one of a kind.
“The pub will never be the same.
“What I remember most about him, though, was how much he loved and worshipped his mum.”
Beccy and more than 20 friends spent Sunday afternoon in the Brewers Arms after visiting the crash site to pay their respects.
She added: “It just seemed right somehow to go and have a drink there and share our memories.
“ It was fitting to raise a glass to them all, as that's where they would meet.
“Michaela's family were good friends with the landlord, Eddie was in all the time with his girlfriend, Robyn, and Gill also worked behind the bar.”
Yesterday, a Cheshire West and Chester Council maintenance team filled in an eroded area of the road by a grid close to the scene of the crash yesterday.
The council has completed an accident investigation and will make its findings available to the coroner. Residents who live near the pothole, which was filled at around 11am yesterday, said it has been worsening and creating an increasingly loud thud as traffic passes over it.
A spokeswoman for Cheshire West and Cheshire Council said last night: “Our accident and investigation team will be carrying out a full enquiry. The findings will be sent to the coroner.”
