Tributes after death of popular school coach man
JON MACPHERSON
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular school coach driver who died suddenly, aged 52.
Paul Greaves worked for 10 years at Cranberry Coachways in Clayton-leMoors and lived on site in a static caravan.
Colleagues and family members said he was a ’happy go-lucky joker’ and an ‘absolutely amazing bloke’ and have been left shocked by his death.
The father-of-three passed away on Sunday, September 29, after complaining of the flu and chest pains for several days.
Christine Dixon, owner of Cranberry Coachways on Read Street, said Paul did The Hollins school coach run every day and was ‘such a loveable bloke’.
She said: “He was more like a family friend than a work colleague. He wasn’t just part of the furniture, he was the furniture.
“One of my other drivers saw him on Saturday night.
“He had a cold for a couple of days and told some of the lads his chest was a bit tight but there was nothing that worried any of us.
“It was very sudden and we are just about getting our heads round it.
“I can just start talking about him now without crying. He will be very sadly missed.
“He was an absolutely amazing bloke, nobody didn’t like him. He was so happy and loved everybody. He had a smile for everybody.
“The kids on the coach are all absolutely devastated.
“He knew everybody and they all respected and loved him.
“I have so much respect for him. I kept saying I wanted to clone him because he was so thoughtful.”
Paul’s older brother George Greaves said he ‘almost fainted’ when he found out about his death.
He said: “Paul has been a bit of a joker all of his life and made lots of people laugh.
“He was like one of the family at Cranberry’s. They loved him to pieces.
“He was such a happy go-lucky lad and that’s what people will remember him for.
“In the lead up to the weekend he was saying he had a bit of tightness in his chest and flu but nobody expected this to happen.
“It was so out of the blue. I almost fainted when I was told, I couldn’t believe it. Being a younger brother you don’t think that will happen.”
Paul leaves children Christian, Dominic and Chantelle, partner Andrea, siblings George, Janet and Pauline, and was a respected brotherin-law, relative and good and loyal friend to many.
See obituary below.