‘Devoted dad’ who found his ‘heart’s home’ in North Wales
TRIBUTES PAID AS INQUEST OPENS
AN inquest has opened into the death of a loving father killed in a single-vehicle crash in Gwynedd.
Driving instructor Digby Robert Eade, of Glynllifon Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog, suffered a traumatic chest injury and died at the scene on the A487.
The inquest, opened in Caernarfon by acting senior coroner Katie Sutherland, heard how the 49-year-old had been travelling from the direction of Porthmadog at around 11.30am on January 5 when he lost control of his BMW and collided with a retaining wall outside the Oakley Arms in Maentwrog.
The father-of-one was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics shortly before 12.30pm.
A postmortem examination carried out by Dr Mark Atkinson showed Mr Eade sustained a “thoracic trauma” in the crash.
Ms Sutherland said: “The circumstances surrounding Mr Eade’s death are a matter for inquest.
“We will adjourn pending the outcome of my investigations.”
Mr Eade grew up in the south of England, but had lived in North Wales for many years, calling it “his heart’s home”.
Following his sudden death, his family paid tribute to the man they described as a “devoted father and son who was happiest when he was helping others.
“As a youngster he had success with training his dog in agility, making an appearance at Crufts.
“As a teenager his love of the RAF led to him being an active member in his local ATC branch. On leaving school he visited the USA to gain experience in a special effects studio, another love of his.
“On his return to England he qualified as a mechanical engineer at Highbury College where he later lectured.
“Through his life he had an assortment of jobs including working in the Portsmouth Dockyard before moving to Wales to marry his wife and start a new life in Gwynedd.
“When made redundant he retrained as a driving instructor and took great pride in teaching his students to be good drivers.
“When asked if he would return south to live he always replied ‘no’ as Wales is his heart’s home, where he loved being part of a real community which will be poorer by his absence.”