Thatcham family pays tribute to teenager killed in crash

Seventeen-year-old Tom Slater, of Benham Hill, had been riding a blue Yamaha motorcycle on the A339 between the Robin Hood and Vodafone roundabouts when it was involved in a collision with a blue Renault Clio at around 10.40pm.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family have now paid tribute to their brother and son and thanked local people and Tom’s friends for their support and thoughts.
On Sunday, hundreds of Tom's friends and former classmates gathered at Henwick Field in Thatcham to pay tribute to their friend and light lanterns in his memory.
Tom, a former pupil of Trinity School, in Shaw, and Whitelands Park Primary School, in Thatcham, was half way through the first year of his three-year mechanic apprenticeship scheme.
He was working at Pro Bike in Newbury with his father, Paul Slater (known locally as Curly), as well as being on block placement at Suzuki in Doncaster.
Mr Slater revealed that the bike Tom was riding when the crash happened had been a gift to him for his 17th birthday just three months ago.
He said that his son was a sensible motorcyclist and the last thing he would have wanted was to damage his bike - his pride and joy.
He said: “He adored [working with engines] and he was very good at it.
“I worked on the bench next to him, he was a very hard worker.”
His mother Penny, said: “He was so loving.”
His sister, 19-year-old Sophie, said: “He never had a bad word about anyone but if we did have a fight, he would be smiling five minutes later.”
Tom was also a keen fisherman and was often seen at Thatcham Lakes before he met his girlfriend, Kayleigh Weatherley-May.
Mr Slater said: “He doted on her, he 100 per cent focused his attention on her.”
His cousin, Emma Slater, sent in a tribute to the NWN saying of Tom: “Your cheeky smile and kind heart will never be forgotten,” while his aunt, Jackie Slater, added: “You were kind, thoughtful and always happy with a big smile on your face.”
Jodie Taylor, a friend, added: “You were taken from us way too soon but our memories will live on forever, it will never be a final goodbye.”
Tom’s friends have now started fundraising in his memory.
They are selling car stickers and are currently coming up with other ideas to raise money, which will either be donated to a charity or go towards a memorial for Tom.
To join in visit

Mr Slater added: “People have been unbelievable.
“You don't know how people feel until something like this happens, it's truly amazing.”
He added that while the family was grateful for all the tributes laid by the roadside near to where Tom died, police had urged people not to continue doing so in that area for safety reasons.
The whole family thanked everyone for their support.
If anyone witnessed the collision, or has information about this incident, call investigating officer Pc Tim Offer on the police non-emergency number on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org