Alnwick mum's heartbreak plea after son dies

Jul 6 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

Peter, who lived with his grandmother at Sycamore Avenue in Alnwick, left the town’s Duchess’s High School aged 16.

That is the same school Sam had been a pupil at and last night Peter’s family told how he had been shaken by his friend’s death.

The pair had become close shortly before Sam’s death and they played football together the weekend before the first tragedy.

Mrs Dodds said: “He was devastated. He was at the funeral.”

The teenager worked at the sawmill at Wooperton after leaving school but was laid off due to lack of work.

His uncle Robert Dodds, 35, worked with him at the sawmill and was driving behind him when the accident happened. So too was cousin Paul Burn.

Last night, his family told how a matter of months ago, Peter had began a relationship with lifelong friend Lauren Smith and the pair planned to go travelling together. His relatives told how he loved his car, fishing, pigeons, riding bikes, remote control cars and football.

Mrs Dodds said: “He was just amazing, happy go lucky, just an amazing boy. Just cheeky, loved to be tidy, always smart.”

Peter had a younger sister Nicole Pringle, 16, and four brothers. Floral tributes yesterday adorned the crash site. Arrangement for Peter’s funeral are still to be finalised.

A teenager who was the front seat passenger in Peter’s car was last night still in Wansbeck General Hospital with neck injuries. A second passenger was flung from the vehicle on impact.