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Family and friends gather at service to remember Ryan
FAMILY and friends of a young Forfar man have been left devastated following his death on Friday after being involved in a two-vehicle collision on the A90.
Former Forfar Academy pupil and Angus College student Ryan Simpson was involved in the collision at 7.30 p.m. on Monday evening at the Bogindollo junction.
He was taken to Ninewells Hospital and on Friday Tayside Police confirmed he had succumbed to his injuries.
They said: “Mr Simpson’s family are understandably upset by their sudden loss and have said that he will be greatly missed. They do not wish to make any further comments at this time and have requested that their privacy is respected.”
Tributes to the popular youngster appeared on the social networking site Facebook, which also played an important role publicising a service in the East and Old Parish Church on Friday evening, held in Ryan’s memory.
The Rev. Barbara Ann Sweetin explained one of her members had suggested a prayer vigil be held for Ryan.
She said: “It was agreed and word quickly spread over Facebook that it was being held in East and Old Church on Friday.
“Unfortunately Ryan died but the young people of Forfar still wanted to do something. So with Ryan’s parents’ permission, and with his parents in attendance, word went round again on Facebook that at the same time and in the same venue people could come along to share their grief in an act of remembrance.
“On a cold night when weather conditions were poor over 250 people, mostly youngsters, turned up to remember their friend Ryan and to show support to Ryan’s family.”
The Rev. Sweetin said many of the teenagers present had never experienced the tragic death of someone their own age and the service gave them an outlet for their grief.
She continued: “The act of remembrance involved everyone writing the end of this sentence, ‘I will always remember Ryan Simpson because ...’
“These notelets will be typed up and given to Ryan’s family. Everyone was also given a candle which was lit during the service while a prayer was said and a time of remembrance of Ryan when he was alive and among us.”
During the service 10 of Ryan’s friends unveiled a lasting tribute to their pal - they had his name and a little heart tattooed on their right shoulders.
On Friday Tayside Police confirmed enquiries into the full set of circumstances of the incident are on-going.
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Weather for Kirriemuir
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
