Accident victim to be buried close to his friend
Jul 13 2009 by Alastair Craig, The Journal
TWO friends killed in car crashes within weeks of each other will be laid to rest just yards apart.
Sam Gattens and Peter Pringle, both 17, died in car accidents close to Alnwick, Northumberland shortly after passing their tests.
Both were driving their pride and joy red Vauxhall Corsas on the outskirts of the town when the separate accidents happened.
Today hundreds of mourners will gather – many dressed in pink – for Peter’s funeral at the town’s St Michael’s Church.
The young Newcastle United fan will be buried in Alnwick Cemetery close to Sunderland supporter Sam, whose funeral was held three weeks ago in the same church.
Sam’s dad Michael, 56, a transport industry worker, said: “Nothing gets away that these two lads losing their lives is a terrible tragedy.
“But Sam and Peter were friends and it’s nice that they will be together. It gives us some comfort at a very difficult time.”
Mourners came in their hundreds last month to Sam’s emotional funeral service and the church could barely accommodate the well-wishers.
Similar scenes were expected today at Peter’s funeral.
Sam died on June 14 when his car overturned and hit a tree on the B6341 near Lion Bridge. He had held a driving licence for just six days when the unexplained crash cost the teenage golfing prodigy his life.
The Duchess’s High School student, from the Highfield Park area of Alnwick, was driving with three friends, who all escaped serious injury.
Peter was killed instantly when his Vauxhall Corsa left the road on Lemmington Bank, which links the A697 with the B6341 earlier this month.
Peter, who lived with his grandmother at Sycamore Avenue, left the town’s Duchess High School aged 16.
That is the same school where Sam had been a pupil and Peter’s family have told how he had been shaken by his friend’s death. The pair had become close shortly before Sam died and they played football together the weekend before the first tragedy.
Peter’s funeral service is being held at St Michael’s Church, in Bailiffgate, at 11.30am.
