York | Archive | 2006 | February | 20
From the archive, first published Monday 20th Feb 2006.
A FATHER-OF-TWO was killed in a tragic accident outside his North Yorkshire home.
Graham Johnson - known to his friends as Budgie - died when he was crushed against a wall by a lorry loaded with bricks. He was just 36 years old.
Today his devastated wife, Vanessa, paid tribute to a "wonderful husband and father, with a great sense of humour and a big heart."
Graham was known as Budgie - based on his childhood nickname Butch - and ran family paving firm Johnsons 4 Tarmac.
He lived in the A64 village of East Heslerton, near Malton, with Vanessa and their two sons, Robert, 11, and nine-year-old Jack.
Vanessa, 34, said: "He was so proud of his kids, and he loved his work. He used to get up on a cold winter morning and say, `look, it's beautiful'.
"His dream was to renovate the barn behind the house, but he will never see it finished now.
"He liked to go out with his mates, just like a normal lad. He was a practical joker with a great sense of humour. I loved him so much, and he gave me two wonderful kids."
Robert and Jack both go to Rillington Primary School, with Robert due to start at Norton College in September.
Both play football for Heslerton FC - and Johnsons 4 Tarmac sponsors the under-10s team.
The Evening Press reported on Friday how Graham died in the accident at 6.30pm on Wednesday.
He was pinned against a wall by a lorry loaded with bricks - bricks intended for his dream barn renovation project - as it reversed towards his house.
It is understood he was trying to warn the driver to stop the vehicle.
A police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances, but officers were carrying out an investigation on behalf of the coroner into the exact sequence of events leading up to Mr Johnson's death.
The identity of the lorry driver has not been revealed.
The accident happened as Vanessa was taking Robert to football training.
She said: "I was away for five minutes, and when I got back he was gone. I went to him and the ambulance was there within minutes. They pulled me off him, and the paramedic said `let's see what we can do'. Then she just got up and said `I'm sorry'."
Graham and Vanessa were both originally from Bridlington, but met in the Golden Lion pub in Malton, in 1989. They moved into a flat in Malton, and married in 1993.
Robert was born a year later, and the family moved to Rillington, where Jack was born. Four years ago, they moved the short
distance to East Heslerton.
Vanessa said: "Since the accident the house hasn't been empty. There's always someone here - friends, family, and people delivering cards and flowers. The kids are hurting, but I don't think they will really understand what's happened until the funeral."
Graham's funeral will be held at St Michael's Church, Malton, where he and Vanessa were married and where their sons were christened, on Friday, at 2pm.
An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned last Friday.
Updated: 09:23 Monday, February 20, 2006
© Newsquest Media Group 2008