A WOMAN from Heswall who lost her 18-year-old son in a road crash has organised a day of remembrance for all road crash victims.

Pauline Fielding MBE, 77, lost her son Andrew in 1994 after he was killed in a road traffic collision when travelling to a football match with friends.

Andrew collected his exams results from Wirral Met on the morning of the crash, and found out that he would be going to Salford University in September.

When travelling on the A540 Chester High Road, approaching Neston at the junction with Raby Park Road, Andrew had to swerve to avoid a car which cut across his path.

Speaking to the Globe, Pauline said: "My husband and I got a call to go to Arrowe Park Hospital.

"When we arrived, my husband asked if Andrew would have to have his leg sewn back on, and the doctor shook his head.

"He said, 'I'm sorry, I've got something difficult to do now', and I just said, 'Is he dead?' and he nodded his head."

Andrew died instantly due to the damage to his chest.

Dangerous junction

Pauline added: “We had always known it was a dangerous junction. We always went a long way round because we knew it was too dangerous coming from Neston High School or the recreation centre.

“After Andrew's death, we thought we need to do something to make it safer.”

Pauline has continued to campaign for changes at the A540 junction and after five years, she successfully managed to get the speed limit on the road reduced from 60mph to 40mph.

Further along the junction, on the dual carriageway, the speed limit was 70mph, and it was reduced to 60mph.

In 2019, on the 25th anniversary of Andrew’s death, Neston High School held a Remembrance Day where many local campaigners came together to show their support.

Action group

From this, Pauline and the other campaigners formed the Action54Zero group, campaigning for more road safety improvements on the A540.

Pauline, campaigner for the group, added: “I cannot stress how grateful we are for all of the support we have had from the community.”

She sent her praises to Neston High School, former MP for Neston, Andrew Miller, current MP for Neston, Justin Madders, husband and wife Phil and Ceri Lloyd along with Quarry Road residents for all of their continued support in her campaigning.

Pauline has also helped numerous families across Merseyside after becoming a trustee and co-ordinating the services of RoadPeace North-West with Margaret Highton, whose granddaughter was killed by a driver at just 3-years-old.

A special remembrance service for road crash victims will take place at 2pm on Wednesday August, 31 at the Lady Chapel at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

It is being held on the 25th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a road crash in 1997.  

Wirral Globe:

During the service, flowers will be laid in remembrance of loved ones who have died and photographs of them will be shown.

A minute’s silence will also be held during the ceremony.

After the service, five doves will be released in memory of loved ones, as each day five people die on the roads in the UK.

Pauline said: "It's going to be a very special day. We want people to realise that a moment of loss of concentration can cause a lifetime of tragedy."

RoadPeace's helpline number: 0845 450 0355. 

More information about the organisation can be found on their website.