Neighbours and pals pay tribute to ‘really nice lad’
JON MACPHERSON
NEIGHBOURS and friends of Lee Holt have paid tribute to a “really nice lad”.
Mr Holt, 32, lived on Cedar Street in Accrington opposite his parents Marilyn and Kevin.
Friends living on the street said he was a ‘really nice lad’ and that it’s a ‘tragedy for all his family’.
Joseph O’Neill, of Cedar Street in Accrington, had known Mr Holt for six years and told the Observer that he had ‘never met a better lad in my life than Lee’.
He said: “My heart goes out to his parents Marilyn and Kevin and his sister Laura.
“The first I knew what happened was when they came round this morning and knocked on my door and told me.
“I could see the devastation in all three of their faces. I saw Lee’s oldest daughter in town this morning and I couldn’t find the words to say how upset and mortified I was.
“I’ve never met a better lad in my life than Lee. He didn’t deserve what happened to him.
“It should never have happened and it’s a tragedy for all the family.”
Former taxi driver Mr O’Neill said Mr Holt pre- viously lived on nearby Bold Street in Accrington and moved onto Cedar Street earlier this year.
He said: “Lee moved into the house opposite us at the beginning of this year. I helped him take in his three-piece suite.
“He used to live on Bold Street in his grandad’s house and decided to move out of there so his sister could move in.
“He would come home from work and not move until the morning after. Sometimes he would go and stay at his girlfriend’s.
“I’ve known Lee for six years and he always used to come up and visit his mum and dad. They’ve lived here for over 20 years. They are such a lovely family.”
Tributes had also been paid to Mr Holt on Facebook.
Shaun Anthony wrote: “Rest easy pal sad news.”
Another post from Laura Scholes said: “Sleep sweet Lee from all your Hollins family.”
Jacqueline Hargreaves said: “Didn’t know you, but taken too soon, needlessly, R.I.P, thoughts with family and friends Xx” A HIGH school said it was ‘inevitable’ that their pupils will be directly affected by Lee Holt’s death.
Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School, on Haworth Street in Oswaldtwistle, released a statement following the incident. In a statement on October 26, Rhyddings school said students have been spoken to about the incident and given details of how to access support. It said: “We are aware of the reports of the shooting in Oswaldtwistle. The police have stated that this is an isolated incident and that the wider community are not at risk, but extra patrols of the area have been put on to help assure residents.
“As Oswaldtwistle is a small town, it is inevitable some students will be directly or indirectly affected by these events.
“Students have been spoken to in assembly and form groups where they were given details of how they can access support in school if necessary. Our pastoral staff have made themselves available throughout the morning.”