Family pay tribute to lorry driver killed in early morning A9 crash by Carrbridge
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The wife and son of an Inverness lorry driver killed in a crash on the A9 have spoken of every family’s worst nightmare as the trunk road claimed another victim.
Alan Stuart Jones – described by many as having 'a heart of gold' – died two weeks ago following a crash with another HGV between Carrbridge and Slochd summit.
It comes amid a spate of fatal collisions on the road, the latest being on Wednesday when a 64-year-old car driver died in a three-vehicle crash near Kingussie.
Mr Jones’ wife, Ann, and son, Thomas, of the city's Ruthven Road, paid tribute to a man for whom family meant everything.
The 64-year-old worked for haulage company Northwards, as did his son, who recalled the final phone conversation with his father who had stopped at services on his way up to Inverness – just a couple of hours before he died.
“He was in great spirits,” he said. “It was the end of the working week and he was looking forward to getting home and relaxing and enjoying the weekend.”
He had also been looking forward to a planned trip with his wife to Dublin which should have taken place this week.
“It is a family’s worst nightmare for a loved one to go to work and not come home,” Mr Jones said.
“It brings some comfort that the last person he spoke to was me.”
Mr Jones, who was the middle of five children, grew up in Hilton.
After leaving Millburn Academy aged 16, he joined the Merchant Navy, working for BP Shipping. He held various roles including crane operator and deckhand and travelled all over the world including Africa, Russia, New Zealand and Gibraltar.
He left the service in 1983 and went to work on the North Sea oil rigs but left after the Piper Alpha tragedy in 1988 and began lorry driving, working for various companies including JBT and R&F Campbell.
Mrs Jones said: “He was a workaholic. To the day he died, he worked.
“He liked being busy.”
For many years, he was also a steward with Jacobite Cruises, as was Mrs Jones.
The couple married in 1996, the year after their son was born.
“Family was his main priority,” Mr Jones said. “We were his world.
“Everything he did was for me and mum, making sure we were looked after.”
They say they have been overwhelmed by the hundreds of tributes and messages of sympathy from people who knew him.
They included the organisers of the annual Highland Cross duathlon who recalled an ever cheerful and helpful man who volunteered to drive one of the bike trailers to Affric and was regularly accompanied by his son to help out at the cycle loading.
He had also helped with transport for the Loch Ness Marathon.
Mrs Jones said: “He didn’t like being the centre of attention.
“But he would do anything for anyone.
“We didn’t realise how much he was respected. We didn’t realise how much he was known throughout the Highlands.”
Mr Jones was also a model train enthusiast.
His funeral will be held on Thursday (October 20) at 2.30pm in the funeral home of William T Fraser & Son, Culduthel Road, Inverness. The service will be streamed for those unable to attend.
Donations are invited for the RNLI and the Seafarers’ Trust, a charity which promotes and improves the wellbeing of seafarers worldwide.
