Family tributes to teen sweethearts tragically killed in crash

The families of a teenage couple killed in a tragic crash just before Christmas released heartfelt tributes in their memory.

As previously reported, Matthew Jacobs, 26, was jailed for seven years after driving into the back of a parked Ford Mondeo Estate on December 22 2018.

The collision caused the death of 19-year-olds Alex Ross and Sian Chambers.

Universally loved by his friends and fellow musicians

The family of Alex Ross released a tribute which was part of the Victim Impact statement read out at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday.

The statement read: “Alex was our only child. He was born in 1999 and was a source of immense joy to us.

“Alex developed an interest in music at his prep school and, at the age of 10 when pupils had a chance to learn an instrument, he chose the double bass.

“He sat the entrance exam for Caistor Grammar School and achieved a mark of 97%. He was at Caistor for three years, and then won a scholarship to the Purcell School of Music in London.

“He was there for four very happy years. He inherited the Lincolnshire work ethic, doing three hours of practice every day, which all had to be done after normal schoolwork, homework, rehearsals with the school orchestras and eating had all taken place.

“He had a wonderful basso profundo voice and could reach low notes which sent shivers down the spine.

“His bass playing improved enormously at Purcell and he was selected for the National Youth Orchestra of great Britain, with which he played for two years. He played in two televised Proms with them at the Royal Albert Hall.

“From Purcell, he auditioned for and was granted a place to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

“As a child from a very loving and demonstrative home, he treated his friends in the same way, and they adored him for it.

“When I took him back to Purcell after a weekend at home, he would jump out of the car and run into a mass of hugs, kisses and smiling faces.

“The many cards, letters, visits, telephone calls and emails which we received after his death showed that he was not simply liked or respected but was universally loved by his friends and fellow musicians.

“There are memories of happier times, but those memories are now full of unutterable sadness and grief. They are not happy, because they cannot be dissociated from the fact that the life that gave them has ended so prematurely and in such a dreadful fashion.”

Video tribute to Sian

Sian’s sister Jenny selected photographs to be included in a tribute video. The music in the video was composed and played by her brother Tom.

Sian’s family previously released a tribute to her saying: “Sian was a much loved daughter, sister and friend. We are totally devastated by her passing and are struggling to, in any way, come to terms with the loss.

“Sian was working as an engraver and, as a talented double bass player, was continuing to make music with local ensembles.

“She loved animals and was having a gap year before taking up Animal Science at university.

“As a family, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who stopped and offered assistance to Sian and Alex and the emergency services who attended.”