Loving dad Ste Rowley sadly died on M62 – hours after mourning friend
Ste Rowley, 51, from Dallam, died after being struck by two cars, the hearing in Warrington Coroners Court was told on Wednesday, September 6.
The dad-of-eight was a passenger in a car travelling on the eastbound carriageway of the motorway on the evening of Sunday, March 19, when the vehicle had a puncture and broke down.
A fitting send off was given to Ste Rowley outside Beamont Primary School. Picture: Mike Boden A fitting send off was given to Ste Rowley outside Beamont Primary School (Image: Mike Boden)
After the car pulled onto the hard shoulder, Ste got out.
Victoria Davies, assistant coroner for Cheshire said: “He put himself on the motorway in an ill-judged attempt to walk home following the breakdown of a car in which he was a passenger.
Families paid tribute to much loved dad Ste Rowley as his cortege passed Beaumont Primary School (Image: Mike Boden)
“His judgement was impaired by alcohol. He had been drinking earlier in the day, mourning the death of a friend.
“He was struck by two moving vehicles.”
The crash happened between junctions eight for Burtonwood and nine for Winwick.
The local community rallied round to give Ste a fitting send off (Image: Mike Boden)
After reading evidence at a brief written inquest, the coroner concluded that Ste, of Longshaw Street, died from a road traffic conclusion.
Married to Maz, Ste worked as a maintenance officer at Beaumont Primary School in Orford and Warrington Primary Academy Trust (WPAT).
He was an ardent supporter of Bundy Day at Bank Quay Bulls.
'He was a larger than life personality who endeared himself to everyone he met' (Image: Mike Boden)
The school and rugby[1] club have created personal tributes and commemorative plaques in his honour.
A fitting send-off was held for the ‘larger than life character’ who was adored by his family, friends and all who knew him.
Crowds lined the streets to pay their respects as his coffin was carried in a rainbow coloured carriage by two horses, thanks to a GoFundMe page set up in his memory.
A family member said: “Maz and the family would like to thank everyone for all their support.
“The community came together to give Ste a great send-off. Most of the fundraising was done by Bank Quay Bulls.
“Maz was so humbled by it.
“We would like to thank the people of Warrington who truly came out to support Ste.”
Ste’s children Stephen, Jessy-May, Jamie, Demi-Lee, Spencer, Tristan, Oscar and Lola-Raw made special hand prints to decorate their dad’s coffin.
A family member said: “Ste was a huge family man.
“He was larger than life and is massively missed by all of us.
'His personality was as vibrant as his unique look' (Image: Supplied)
“The children have lost their dad but they are trying carry on and are doing really well.
“His daughter aced in her GCSEs and is going to college which is what she wanted to do.
"His eldest son is taking up an opportunity in America with his school.
“Ste would be massively proud of them all.”
In a statement following his death, WPAT said: “We were deeply shocked to learn that we had lost a deeply valued member of the Warrington Primary Academy Trust school community with the sudden passing of our maintenance officer Ste Rowley.
Crowds lined the streets (Image: Mike Boden)
“Ste was woven into the fabric of Beaumont Primary School and Warrington Primary Academy Trust.
“Many of you will have known Ste. He was a larger than life personality who endeared himself to everyone he met.
“His personality was as vibrant at his unique look.
“When he entered a room, you knew about it, and it was a rare occasion when you did not part company with Ste without feeling a little bit better about life.”