Family, friends and colleagues of Ivan Thomas Wemyss, also known as Ian and Devvo, have paid heart-felt tributes to the popular 24 year old, and an online donation page has been established, to raise funds to help pay towards the cost of his funeral.

On the Go Fund Me webpage, which was established by Ivan’s close friend, Jack Lilwall, states:“We want to be able to give our Brother Ian Thomas Wemyss the best send off, that he deserves.

“We are trying to raise money for his funeral and to get his dream 106 GTI back on the road and looking how he wanted it for his funeral.”

Ivan was in a car crash on the A49 in Much Birch on Friday, November 6th. He was taken to hospital in Birmingham with serious injuries, but he died on Monday, November 9th.

Some of Ivan’s closest friends have been finding it difficult to talk about losing a friend they describe as their “brother.” At the time the Ross Gazette went to press this week, they were arranging to meet and put together a tribute, on behalf of their closely knit friendship group.

Another of Ivan’s good friends, Jordan Jones, who had been friends with him for just over two years, spoke to the Ross Gazette. He spoke of his friend with the highest regard.

He said:“Ivan was a massive car lover. For as long as I remember he has always been ecstatic for Peugeots, like myself.”

Jordan and Ivan met at a show called Pugfest which is held once a year at Prescott Hill Climb, in Gloucestershire. The show attracts Peugeot enthusiasts far and wide.

“He had his immaculate 106 GTI there which he loved more than anything, I got speaking to him and found out we had friends in common,” Jordan said.

“He was a lad who would offer to help with fixing or cleaning your car before you got a chance to ask, everyone loved him. He would always have a couple of spare parts lying around for when I needed to fix mine, or he would know the people that did, he was originally a mate that I shared a mutual love of cars with, but then he became a mate for so many other reasons.”

Jordan continued: “Ivan was aiming to get his 106 GTI rebuilt back up again but was taken away from us too early. (His friend) Stuart (Gamble) is rebuilding it at the moment so it can be taken to his funeral. All the boys who were close have all traded in their cars to buy a GTI to take along and remember him by. I’m currently in the process of building mine at the moment and his name will be on it.”

At Ross-on-Wye RFC’s match on Saturday, November 14th, the team held a one minute’s silence as a sign of solidarity. Gavin Oates, who plays for the Ross First Team told the Ross Gazette:“We did it as a sign of respect, as we as a club have lost someone young, and we wanted his family and friends to know that we were thinking of them.”

Ivan worked at Mandarin Stone in Monmouth. Alma Small, the founder of the company, told the Ross Gazette: “I actually interviewed Ian in April last year for the position he held within Mandarin Stone.”

Alma described him as:?“a well liked outgoing person, a good sense of humour with a positive out look on life.”

She continued:?“He enjoyed football, generally keeping fit and had a passion for cars. During his 18 months employment he has forged good relationships with his work colleagues, some of whom have become his close friends.

“All these friends and fellow workers vouch for Ian as being a happy, caring individual who celebrated his life to the full, he will be sadly missed by all at Mandarin Stone.”

Ian previously worked at the Saracens Head Inn, at Symonds Yat East. Chris Rollinson, one of the owners, also paid tribute to him. He told the Ross Gazette:“We are so sad to hear the tragic news, Ian was regarded with true affection by all who knew him whilst he worked at the Saracens Head Inn.

“His sense of humour and likeable nature made him shine. He will be missed, and not forgotten. Our thoughts are with his loving family.”

If you would like to visit Ian’s Go Fund Me Page, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/7gaq3qr8.

An inquest into Ivan’s death was opened on Monday, November 16th.