M1 crash victim ‘caring, gentle, loving woman’
FAMILY TRIBUTES AFTER DRIVER IS JAILED FOR CAUSING COLLISION
A FAMILY have paid tribute to a ‘caring’ mum with a ‘beautiful spirit’ who died in an eight-vehicle crash on the M1.
Winsome Bedward, 57, was a passenger in a Mazda 3 when the collision happened on the unlit section of the northbound carriageway near Crick, Northamptonshire, just after 5am on March 8 last year.
Ms Bedward, from Nottingham, died at the scene.
The driver of the Ford Focus which caused the collision - Warren Michael Mcbride, 36, of Littlethorpe, Leicester - has been convicted of causing death by careless driving with alcohol as a contributing factor.
On Friday, Mcbride was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.
He was also disqualified for driving for just under six years and will be required to take an extended test in order to regain his licence.
Ms Bedward’s family, who have released tributes via Northamptonshire Police, described her as a “caring, gentle, loving woman”.
She leaves behind two young sons, a mum, four brothers, two sisters, a sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, godchildren and her church family.
Her mum Kathleen said: “My feelings really cannot be put into words.
“Winsome was a loving, caring person with a beautiful spirit.
“She worked as a carer her entire life and this came from a place of genuine love and care for others.
“She used to come and visit me regularly and every Saturday would be a bonding experience for us as she came to do my hair.
“It is so hard as a mother to see your child go before you - the pain is immeasurable.”
Ms Bedward sister Elaine said: “Being my older sister I used to get all her clothes that she grew out of when I was younger and could talk to her about most things.
“When we fell out, she would give us the ‘silent treatment’ whereby she would put on her headphones and pretend not to hear you but she heard every word you said.
“The bond continued as we lived together with our brother, Glen, and afterwards when we both got married.
“I could call her on the phone for no reason, go to her home to chill out, meet at mum’s on a Saturday evening and generally be silly.
“I always sat next to, or very near, her at family gatherings so we could engage in our tomfoolery.
“The suddenness of Winsome’s death impacts me every day but I’m so proud that she is my sister and that I have so many great memories with her to look back on.” “She was really beautiful inside and out,” said brother Glen. “Winsome’s death has left us feeling empty and devastated beyond measure. She will always be precious to us.”
Ms Bedward also leaves behind sons Jonathan and Samuel. “It has left me feeling sad, downhearted and broken,” said Jonathan. “She was an approachable, gentle, kind and caring mother with a helpful nature.”
“No one can take the place of my mother in my heart,” added Samuel. DC Bruce Wilson from Northamptonshire Police, said: “It is crystal clear how special a woman Winsome Bedward was and just how highly she was regarded by her entire family. “There is no sentence in this world that can make up for the pain they feel, or the loss of such a wonderful woman, but I hope the conclusion of this case provides them with some sense of closure and will allow them to concentrate on all the good memories they have of Winsome.”