Moving tributes to teen crash friends

Tributes have been paid to two Minster School pupils who died in a car accident last week.

Around 150 attended a football match on Monday night where a minute’s silence was observed for Max Dixon (17) of Main Street, Farnsfield, and James Moodie (17) of Main Street, Kirklington.

The friends were killed when the Peugeot 106, in which they were passengers, crashed in Blidworth.

An inquest into their deaths was opened and adjourned in Nottingham on Wednesday.

The inquest was told Max was a front seat passenger and James was sitting in the back of the car.

Both died of multiple injuries.

Many of those playing for Southwell City under-19s against West Bridgford Colts knew the pair and attended school with them.

A collection at half-time raised more than £270 for a memorial to be put in the school.

Any remaining money will be donated to the emergency services.

Southwell City’s goalkeeper, Mike Oxborrow (17) a Minster School pupil, helped to organise the event.

Mike, of Leeway Road, Southwell, was pleased so many people attended.

He said: “It’s good because it shows how the lads were respected and well known.

“I think they would have been pleased with what we did. I think it was what they would have wanted — for a lot of people to get together to celebrate their lives.

“A lot of people have been on their own thinking about things and so the match wasn’t just about raising money but getting people together to support each other.

“We hope the money we’ve raised shows the families how much they were appreciated.”

Mike said pupils and staff were working together to decide on a suitable memorial.

He said James was a keen rugby player so a rugby pitch could be dedicated in his name while Max spent a lot of time socialising in the cafeteria so something similar could be done there.

The chairman of Southwell City, Mr Colin Abbott, said many of the Under-19 players had been affected by James and Max’s deaths.

He said: “They had a match last Wednesday at Rainworth, which was the day after. Some of the boys were too upset to get changed, others got changed and changed back because they were just too upset to play.

“By doing this they were a lot more positive and hopefully it has helped the healing process.”

Pupils at Minster School dressed in white for a memorial service led by the head, Mr Phil Blinston, on Friday.

Sixth form students, former pupils, staff and members of the boys’ families attended.

Mr Blinston encouraged pupils to stay together in their grief, and not to grieve alone.

Friends spoke about their memories of Max and James, and read the poem Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep.

They also talked about the importance of supporting the the driver of the car Max and James were travelling in, when he returns to school.

Staff and students cried as photographs of the boys were displayed on a large screen and some of their favourite music, including Always and I Miss You by Blink 182 and songs by Kanye West, were played.

Pupils signed books of remembrance and a candle was lit in their memory.

Max was part of a group who won a competition to design a sign for Southwell’s Crew Lane Industrial Estate in July.

The manager of Southwell Racecourse, Mr Nathan Corden, said he would try to ensure the sign was put up as a tribute.

James’s funeral takes place today in Southwell Minster while Max’s is on Monday, also at the minster.