Michael Ashton, 28, worked as a gasfitter for council-owned firm BD Group
A tribute to a Barking and Dagenham Council worker has been unveiled by his family and colleagues during a special ceremony to remember his life.
Michael Ashton, 28, died in October last year after being run over by a taxi driver near his home in Langdon Hills, Essex. The driver had picked up Michael and his partner following a night out in Havering, on 26th September last year.
Now a memorial bench has been placed at the London East UK business park in Dagenham where Michael was based, working for council-owned maintenance firm BD Group as a gasfitter.
He started work at the site as an apprentice plumber at the age of 18, before becoming a gasfitter providing maintenance on council housing across Barking and Dagenham.
Last month, a taxi driver was jailed after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. Michael was hit by a car driven by Hayadulla Turkmani, who had just brought him back to his Langdon Hills home following an evening out with his girlfriend.
Michael was taken to hospital but didn’t recover from his injuries and died on Saturday, 4th October. Turkmani, aged 53 and from Langdale Gardens in Hornchurch, was jailed for five years.
Michael’s mother Jayne Ashton and sister Natasha Ashton attended a special event to remember him, as were dozens of work colleagues and others from across Barking and Dagenham Council and the BD Group.
Jayne said: “Michael started work with BD Group and We Fix as an apprentice straight out of college and enjoyed the ten years he worked here and made many friends.
“A memorial bench is a fitting way of helping Michael’s colleagues remember him and it means a lot to us, his family.”
The memorial bench was arranged jointly by BD Group and trade union GMB, as a mark of respect for Michael, who was “well liked and much respected” by his colleagues.
It will now act as a permanent memorial for Michael where colleagues, friends and family can sit and reflect on their memories of him.
Memorial plaques with messages from Michael’s parents, work friends and BD Group are attached to the bench.
Following the ceremony, BD Group interim chief executive Sarah Ryan said: “Michael was well known across our organisation and his untimely death understandably affected a lot of people. This memorial bench will allow his colleagues and friends to sit and reflect on Michael’s life for years to come.”
BD Group operations executive director Louise Lineker, who oversaw the work area Michael was part of, added: “I knew Michael for a number of years and he was a popular, friendly and respected member of our team.
“I know that many people across the organisation who knew Michael will take this time to remember him, as will I. My thoughts go out to Michael’s family as well as his friends and colleagues at LBBD and BD Group at this difficult time.”
