Taxi drivers are a huge part of the community they serve, meeting people from all walks of life, often picking up regular passengers, and making life-long friends.
They are a close-knit group and look out for their colleagues. They are on the front line in our communities and are often the first to help, whether it is someone struggling with their shopping, people in difficulty, someone who is lost, has had an accident, or even been the victim of crime.
‘One of the best’
So it is no surprise that the sudden and shocking death of popular Pembrokeshire taxi driver Chris ‘Mucker’ Boyle in a crash has hit people hard, especially his family, fellow cabbies and passengers.
Father-of-five Chris, who was 57, was described by colleagues as “one of the best” and the “kindest, funniest, most genuine, helpful taxi driver ever”.
Wales Online shared a heartfelt tribute posted by Tenby Taxis on Facebook: “Words cannot express our broken hearts. As a taxi community we lost one of the best. The kindest, funniest, most genuine, helpful taxi driver ever.
“We are all heartbroken, saddened and in total disbelief at the loss of our colleague, and dear friend.
“Chris was such a character and totally irreplaceable. He would help anybody for any reason at any time, he was such a gentleman always smiling always happy and always very good to everyone he met. We love you, we will miss you.”
Support
Chris touched the hearts of so many people and was a huge character in the community. It is no surprise that there has been such an outpouring of love since his tragic death and everyone in the taxi community has rallied round to help in any way they can.
Gabriel Nowak, a colleague and fellow taxi driver, told the Pembrokeshire Herald: “I don’t think there’s anyone in Tenby or Pembrokeshire who didn’t know Mucker. His friendly face and his sense of humour will be missed by so many.”
Chris’ funeral was held at St Mary’s Church in Tenby on September 27 and a GoFundMe page organised by Gabriel has raised £16,634 of a £10,000 target with 442 donations. The money will be used to cover funeral costs and to support Chris’ children.
In a moving tribute on the fundraising page, Gabriel said: “We love you Mucker Boy, you were more than a colleague to all of us, you were a friend and a brother, and Saturday nights will never be the same again without your blue light passing by.
“Rest easy Mucker Boy, until we see you again.”
Tenby funeral director W & MJ Rossiter & Sons shared a message from Chris’ family, which said: “Chris was a deeply loved son, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be sorely missed by his children Daniel, Chloe, Leah, Jimmy, and Tommy J, as well as his siblings Liz, David, and Lisa.”
Nothing can take away the huge loss Chris’ family are feeling, but they can take some comfort from the number of heartfelt tributes and messages that show how much he meant to people, and knowing they have the full support of the taxi community.
* Chef Mateusz Sikorski, who was visiting Wales from Poland, pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Monday to causing death by dangerous driving on September 2 near Tenby, reports the Tenby Observer. He was bailed until November 8 for sentencing.
