A Star on Earth 

  A Star in Heaven

This memorial website was created in the
 memory of our Son, Dean Nicholas who was born in Caerphilly South Wales on January 11, 1983 and tragically passed away on July 14, 2005 at the age of 22. We will always love and remember him and cherish his memory forever.
      
Dean was a happy child and always looked on the bright side of life. He had a mischeivious and cheeky character. Dean had many friends when growing up. But his little gang consisted of Daniel, Darren, and Winston! Daniel and Darren's mum Tina virtually become a surrogate mother to Dean. You never knew what they would get up to next. I would always know where to find him! I have photographs of them all in Nursery age four. They looked as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouths! At Comprehensive school Arwyn and Martyn added to that list!
                   

 However, throughout Dean's life his brother Steve focused in every part of it. They were rarely apart. Although, they were very different people. Dean loved to be dirty and up to his elbows in grease and oil. Steve hated that! Dean's bunk bed was never made and his clothes hung up on the floor! Most people who didn't know them thought they were twins. Dressing them the same didn't help, they both hated wearing the same clothes.  

Dean liked nothing more than making people laugh, he had the most amazing sense of humour and would have us crying with laughter. His favourite comdian was Peter Kay. He had all his DVD's and was able to recite scripts word for word. While Dean was in Iraq, Max and Paddy was shown on TV. Dean couldn't wait to see it and was waiting for the repeat of it. It was repeated one month after Dean left us. Dean also answered the phone with little catch phrases, which unfortunately I cannot write on here for fear of offending people. But boy were they funny! When Dean phoned me, he always said, 'Hello Mother, how is life on Walton's Mountain?'. Knowing full well that we as a family are so unlike the Waltons! Dean grew up into a confident and focused young man, we were so proud of him. 

At 17 Dean joined the Army. Although at first he tried to resist the disiplined environment, he soon became a dedicated and ambitious young soldier.During training he would come home on weekends. You never knew who would be turning up with him. One day Dean brought home a friend. After Lunch he went with Merrick to his home and there he met Merrick's sister Gemma. Within one year they had married . Nick and I tried to talk them out of marrying as we felt they were too young. Dean being 18 and Gemma 17. How wrong we were to try and persuade them not to marry. 31st March 2001 was a very special day for them both. If they had listened to us, Dean would not have experienced his own little family unit. 

In February 2003 Dean and his brother went to Iraq where he became involved in hostile situations. It was a very worrying time for us, with both our boys living and working in a war zone. Dean made lots of friends during his time in the Army. In particular Gaz and Scotty became a familiar name to us. We would hear about their latest exploits at their BBQ's. At that time another person became friends with not only Dean, but Steve and the whole family. Enter Chris Kennedy!! Chris become very special to us. He has been a constant support to us, especially when Nick and I had to go to Germany when hearing of Dean's passing. Chris told us of how the two of them when in Iraq would set aside time to listen to a CD of Love songs and cry their eyes out remembering their loved ones! At the end of those sessions they would then put on dance music to help change their mood. 

On 12th July 2004, Gemma gave birth to Kaitlin in Wales. Dean managed to fly from Germany to the hospital with minutes to spare. Dean was so proud of Kaitlin. She is so like her dad. I can see him standing there saying 'That's my girl'

Dean returned again in November 2004 to Iraq on peace keeping duties and arrived home at the end of April 2005. During the next 10 weeks Dean returned home to Wales and purchased a Yamaha R6 motorcycle. His dad tried to persuade Dean not to buy it. But it was no use, Dean had set his heart on the blasted bike. He returned back to Osnabruck with his bike on the 1st June 2005. Little did I know that at 3am that dark morning it would be the last time I would hold Dean and see him ever again. I didnt realise that, the kiss goodbye was going to be a kiss goodbye forever... 


Dean joined a Motorcycle club within the Army called the 'Screaming Eagles'. Dean himself nicknamed them the 'Tweeting Budgies'! 
Every Thursday evening the club would go out on 'Ride Outs'. Dean enjoyed his Thursday evenings. On Thursday 14th July 2005 Dean was returning home from the ride. He collided with an oncoming car. It was to be Dean's last ride... 

Dean's funeral took place on the 28th July 2005 with full military honours. The pall bearers were amazing. To watch those boys carry their friends coffin, upstanding and dignified was heartbreaking, especially when the tears rolled silently down their faces.... 

Nothing can prepare a parent for the shock and pain that is felt when you lose a child. It is life changing. The world as you know it will never be the same. Part of you will die with your child. The longing for your child is completely overwhelming. Nick and I will spend the rest of our days asking Why? But there will never be an answer. We try to hold on to the belief that one day we will be reunited with Dean.
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