1 week Ago By [email protected] (Peter Craig)
Tributes have been paid to a much-loved former Grimsby teacher who tragically died following a cycling incident near his home. Steve Owen, 70, taught at schools in Grimsby, including Wintringham School for 35 years. He retired in 2012 and moved to Louth where he was captain of Louth Golf Club.
Steve married Felicity on May 29, this year and they lived together in Skegness, where they were both members of Seacroft Golf Club. READ MORE: Former Grimsby sub-postmaster caught up in Post Office scandal sadly dies before receiving compensation Latest death notices and funeral announcements from the Grimsby Telegraph Steve was a keen cyclist, going on long bike rides up to five times each week. He was due to meet his wife and a friend for a round of golf on Sunday, August 18.
But as he joined the bypass between Ingoldmells and Orby, he was in collision with a car. Emergency services attended quickly and Steve was taken by the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire air ambulance to Hull Royal Infirmary. Sadly he died two weeks later, on September 1.
A celebration of Steve's life will be held on Monday at St Matthew's Church, Skegness, with donations being collected in aid of the air ambulance. He joined the staff of Wintringham School in 1987, where he taught PE. He went on to teach Religious Education and Humanities before becoming the lead in the behaviour management team for students with difficulties.
Steve retired in 2012 when he and Felicity moved to Louth. He was captain of Louth Golf Club from 2013 to 2014. Felicity told how he celebrated his 70th birthday in June with family and friends at Seacroft Golf Club, after the couple moved to Skegness over two years ago.
She told how he was a keen cyclist. "He was a keen cyclist and thought nothing of riding around for 35 miles, four or five times each week. it was something he started when we were in lockdown in Louth," she said.
The tragic incident happened shortly before he was due to meet his wife and a friend for golf. He had an app on his phone which was on at the time of the collision. One of the people who rushed to his aid found the phone and dialled one of the first names on the list of contacts.
The contact then rang Felicity who rushed to the scene. Steve Owen was on his way to meet his wife and a friend to play golf when his bike was in collision with a car (Image: Submitted) "The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire air ambulance crew were brilliant. They arrived within seven or eight minutes and 15 minutes later he was in Hull Royal Infirmary.
He had the best care possible and gave him a fighting chance. But his injuries were too severe," said Felicity. She told how she went to the hospital at Hull and stayed with a friend in Grimsby during the first week and another friend in Barton, so she could travel more easily to the hospital to be by his side each day.
"The care he received was brilliant. It was second to none. It was first class care.
They were all as shattered as I was when he died," she said. They met in 1987 when she was teaching food science and Steve joined the staff. She recalled one of their first meetings when she was supposed to cover for Steve and take a class.
But she was late due to the time it took to cook some gingerbread men. They were together ever since. "It was his smile and his laugh and his great sense of fun that I loved.
He loved a joke. He was someone who could not sit still and was always on the go. There are many pupils who remember him.
There were some who reminded him they had taught their mum or dad," Felicity said. Fellow retired teacher, Peter Mascall said: "Steve was a great personality. When I started teaching, Steve was one of my mentors.
We played in the same five-a-side football team. He gave a speech at my retirement party and was always a good laugh." Felicity said that with 2024 being a Leap Year, she asked him to marry her and they got married in May this year.
Steve is survived by his wife and children Rachel and Peter. He also has two brothers, Howard and Andrew. A collection will be made in aid of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire air ambulance at the service on Monday at St Matthew's church, Skegness from 1pm.
A private cremation is due to take place at Alford prior to the service at the church. Felicity said a trophy at the golf club will be named in his honour. A file has been prepared for the Great Lincolnshire coroner and an inquest has been opened and adjourned to a date to be fixed.
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