The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Family of dead biker tell of pain after crosses theft
Mystery around why memorial targeted
The family of a man killed in a motorcycle accident have spoken of their heartache after crosses went missing from a memorial garden – for the second time since he died.
Nearly three years ago on May 15 2015, tragedy struck on a remote Wester Ross road as Calum Maciver, 36, lost his life after his motorcycle collided with a camper van on the A832 Drumchork to Poolewe road.
Mr Maciver’s family had organised for a lasting memorial to be placed at the spot where the incident occurred.
Two years ago, a solid oak cross disappeared from the garden. After a replacement had been placed at the site last year, Mr Maciver’s family have now sent out a fresh appeal for information after three crosses went missing, with the last, a small homemade wooden cross, disappearing around two weeks ago.
Mr Maciver’s family be- lieve the crosses were deliberately removed and are baffled as to why anybody would remove their tribute.
Mr Maciver’s mother Liz Bicker, from Elgin, said: “I am absolutely heartbroken.
“My ex-husband and I are still friends and he put so much into that wee memorial garden at the spot where my son was killed. I know he actually gets comfort going there.
“We are all broken hearted
“Each time it’s been a sense of unbelief and then anger”
that somebody could do something so evil to our Calum.”
Mr Maciver, who worked offshore in Angola, was a keen motorcyclist and was said to be well-liked in the local community.
His father Roderick Maciver, from Cove in Wester Ross, said: “Each time it’s been a sense of unbelief and then anger.
“We don’t know anybody that has a grudge against us as a family – and certainly not against Calum.
“Somebody has taken a huge risk stopping there. A lot of folk around here are really upset. Things like this don’t happen up here.
“There is no explanation. We wish we knew a reason – to me there is no reason. The memorial garden is not doing any harm and it’s devastating to all of us.”
A spokesperson for Po- lice Scotland said: “Anyone who has information about the whereabouts of these crosses can contact police in Ullapool.”