Gateshead climber Andrew Luckley dies in Scotland

Jul 9 2009 by Sara Nichol, The Journal

“The week before the accident, we had been over in the Lake District, camping, climbing and rowing. We did everything together. While we were in Scotland he was the happiest I’d seen him for a long time. I’m going to miss him so much.”

His death has devastated colleagues at the O2 branch at Gateshead Metro Centre and tributes from staff and friends have been flooding into the website Facebook.

Messages show Andrew was a hugely popular and well-respected member of the workforce.

One read: “It’s was just such as shock because Andrew was the kind of guy who was really looking forward to his future.

“He had recently been doing up his home and planning a future with Paris – he was always bettering himself, home and life.

“That’s what makes this even more sad. He was someone who had everything planned for his future.

“He was a really sound guy who was always full of jokes and he was one of those people who recruited staff and gave them opportunities they might not have usually had.”

Andrew’s sister Vanessa paid tribute to her brother on Facebook and wrote: “I’m going to miss him so much. We all called him the boy. It’s nice to see how well liked he was and how missed he is going to be.”

Robert Lister, O2’s area manager for the North East and Andrew’s boss, said he would be a huge miss, adding: “Andrew will he a huge loss to the company - particularly in the North East.”