Community remembers tragic Scone family

Dec 11 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE CLOSE-KNIT community of Scone will gather at the village’s Old Parish Church this afternoon to remember three members of the same family tragically killed in a weekend car crash.

Michele Owen (36) and her sons Callum (13) and Ethan (11) were travelling on the A95 Aviemore- Keith road on Saturday when their car was involved in a three-vehicle collision.

It is believed the Scone family had been on their way to visit the boys’ grandmother to deliver Christmas presents when tragedy struck.

Colin Goodison, club secretary of Scone Thistle Community Sports Club, will be one of the mourners attending the sombre 3pm gathering.

He said that Ethan, an avid Manchester United fan who played for the club’s U12 side, and Michele – who was about to become the community group’s child protection officer – were part of an extremely popular family.

Paying tribute, Mr Goodison said: “Ethan was a lovely lad who was eager to learn and gave 100 per cent at all times.

“He always seemed to have a smile on his face whenever you saw him, come rain or shine.

“He was a great credit to Scone Thistle, and also to his family.

“It was a real pleasure to coach Ethan and see him develop, not only as a player, but also as a person.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t see his brother Callum too often as he was more into rugby – but he did come along to support Ethan and the rest of the lads.

“Callum was a really nice young man who had so much to look forward to.”

Describing the boys’ mother, Mr Goodison said Mrs Owen, who was a home carer, “was a wonderful person.”

He continued: “Michele was very supportive, not only of Ethan and Callum, but she was starting to take a more hands-on role within the club.

“There is no doubt that she was going to be a valuable asset to us in the coming years.

“Sometimes, on occasions such as these, it makes no sense that three people as loved as Michele, Callum and Ethan can be taken from us so cruelly.

“And, although all the players, officials and parents are at a loss at this tragic time, it should be known that our footballing family at Scone Thistle are all the richer for having known them.

“Their memory will live on within all of us,” he said.

A large number of Boys’ Brigade members are expected to attend, including the 1st Scone Company led by Rev. Bruce Thomson, of which Robert Douglas Memorial School pupil Ethan and Perth Academy student Callum were active members.

Their website has been inundated with tributes to all three members of the Owen family.

A private service will be held at Perth Crematorium after the Scone Old Parish Church memorial to allow father and husband, Ian Owen, to say a final goodbye to his loved-ones alongside fellow members of the immediate family.

A spokesman for Northern Constabulary, the police force investigating Saturday’s horrific crash, confirmed a report on the incident has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.