Tributes to teacher crushed in Brighton bin lorry (From The Argus)
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Tributes to teacher crushed in Brighton bin lorry
3:49pm Tuesday 14th July 2009 in News
FIRST PICTURE: Scott Williams
This is the first picture of the man crushed to death by a Brighton bin lorry, respected maths teacher and rugby coach Scott Williams.
Tributes to Mr Williams, 35, have today been paid by friends and colleagues who say he was an inspiration to children.
The teacher died after falling asleep in an industrial bin after a drinking into the early hours of Sunday morning.
His body was discovered more than 24 hours later by workers at the North Quay waste transfer site in Newhaven.
Update: Police try to trace girl Mr Williams left Brighton pub with
Mr Williams, of London, was fondly remembered by former colleague Jacqueline Glazerman, who worked with him at Harrow High and Sports College until 2006.
Ms Glazerman said that Scott was a 'fantastic teacher' who was an inspiration to children in his role as a maths and physical education teacher.
He also coached the school's rugby team.
She said: "Scott was a lovely man and a fantastic teacher.
"I used to work with him and it's a real shock to here of how he died.
"It really is terrible.
"He was a really nice guy and was easy to get on with and was great with the kids.
"He will be sadly missed."
Mr Williams, who was educated in New Zealand and gained a Bachelors degree in physical education from Otago University and a Diploma in Teaching at Auckland College of Education, worked at Harrow High between 2002 and 2006.
He previously worked as a supply teacher in London and worked as a rugby coach and PE teacher at Pakuranga College, Auckland, New Zealand, between 1998 and 2000.
One of Scott's pals, who did not want to be named, said he loved a good drink.
The pal, who previously worked with Scott, said: "He was a typical rugby-playing type of bloke.
"He was great fun and loved a drink or two, but this is so so tragic I can't quite believe it.
"I just don't know what must have been going through his head to have got into a wheelie bin after a night out."
Did you know Scott Williams? Leave your tributes below.
Comments(37)
Totally Provincial
says...
6:41pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Jim BB
says...
7:21pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Poor man, what an awful way to go. My thoughts are with his friends and family.
Rocker
says...
7:30pm Tue 14 Jul 09
So,that's ok then.
Another casualty of boozed-up Brighton.Imagine the commotion if he was high on drugs...er,oh yeah,he was high on drugs.Alcohol,the most dangerous abused substance in our society.
A self-inflicted tragedy.
I wonder if the bars who continued to serve him booze when he was already smashed out of his head feel any responsibility for his death??
L1103
says...
7:40pm Tue 14 Jul 09
i agree maybe it wasnt a good thing to do but who empties bins on a sunday morning and how are visitors ment to know they are emptied daily??
it was a mistake yes and im sure now he wont ever do it again cant you give his friends and family some sympathy ????
TrollOP
says...
8:19pm Tue 14 Jul 09
L1103 wrote:+1
are you all forgetting something a man has died here!
i agree maybe it wasnt a good thing to do but who empties bins on a sunday morning and how are visitors ment to know they are emptied daily??
it was a mistake yes and im sure now he wont ever do it again cant you give his friends and family some sympathy ????
Other posters =/fail.
tiny scouse
says...
8:29pm Tue 14 Jul 09
TheInsider
says...
8:37pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Most of us have drunk ourselves into a dangerous stupor, we have all had near misses, yet we only reign ourselves in when one of our friends loses their life in such a senseless way.
A friend of mine drank himself to death at a party I was at. We all woke up sleeping on the floor of a London flat, but he didn't after a very, very heavy session.
The part of the brain which keeps the body breathing, had been anaesthetised with alcohol and he just stopped breathing. I had never heard of such a thing happening. He would not have known anything about it.
Only since that day as a young man did I stop day long sessions of boozing with the lads.
This is very sad for his friends and family.
driverB
says...
8:58pm Tue 14 Jul 09
snaggybird
says...
9:29pm Tue 14 Jul 09
I am not convinced that this was just an accident! bit more to it I think.
My thoughts go out to all his family and all that knew him, what a waste of a life
Arnie
says...
10:15pm Tue 14 Jul 09
puddingandpi
says...
10:30pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Anyway, he was a Maths teacher.
L1103
says...
10:48pm Tue 14 Jul 09
tiny scouse wrote:i dont understand what you are trying to say here
re the last comment by l1103 if the bin was collected by the sam companys lorry in the tv news yesterday, wastetec. then they collect bin 7 days a week in and around sussex including brighton . and its mainly the normal type wheelie bins from shops.
where else in the country empty bins every day i thought councils were recycling things these days
Asiseeit
says...
11:10pm Tue 14 Jul 09
number 1 this gentleman came down to visit a friend, where the hell was he? why did he let a friend that had come down from london to visit him/her wander off?
Number 2, living and working in Brighton and using the company in question I have to admit there service is 2nd to none and every occasion they have serviced my shop i have witnessed them look in the bins and examine the contents before even moving it.
I would imagine that they have a policy to check the contents I have been advised once or twice they they were unable to collect the waste as the contents were not as per my agreed contract.
(On both these occasions passers by had placed Nappies into my bin).
This tells me that they check the bins and constantly monitor what is being disposed off.
I read another article in on here from a union calling for collection vehicles to have two crew members, this company always has 2 crews members when they collect from me!
This is a totally freak incident that has taken a life and affected several familys! I am sure the collection crew are in deep shock aswell as they would not have expected this to happen whilst carrying out there daily duties!
Instead of pointing the finger and looking to blame, lets put our heads together to find a solution and provent a situation like this happening again!
A life has been lost and a lesson must be learnt however harsh that may seem.
Brighton attracts lots of visits all looking to let there hair down and relax for the weekend, may youngsters from our own back yards go out and get drunk and we must find away to protect them without pointing the finger or making wild accusations.
Asiseeit
says...
11:12pm Tue 14 Jul 09
L1103 wrote:Learn to read! It was a private company! Not the council!
tiny scouse wrote: re the last comment by l1103 if the bin was collected by the sam companys lorry in the tv news yesterday, wastetec. then they collect bin 7 days a week in and around sussex including brighton . and its mainly the normal type wheelie bins from shops.i dont understand what you are trying to say here where else in the country empty bins every day i thought councils were recycling things these days
Rocker
says...
11:51pm Tue 14 Jul 09
The issue isn't about large capacity bins.
Its about alcohol abuse.
stickman
says...
1:25am Wed 15 Jul 09
L1103 wrote:It is described as an "industrial bin". Commercial waste collection varies but daily collections are common.
tiny scouse wrote:i dont understand what you are trying to say here
re the last comment by l1103 if the bin was collected by the sam companys lorry in the tv news yesterday, wastetec. then they collect bin 7 days a week in and around sussex including brighton . and its mainly the normal type wheelie bins from shops.
where else in the country empty bins every day i thought councils were recycling things these days
Made In Sussex
says...
8:28am Wed 15 Jul 09
his friend, blaming the binmen or blaming the alcohol, all pretty symptomatic of why this world is in the mess its in. yes a man has died and that is tragic, thankyou for pointing that out we have read the story and it comes down to perosnal responsibility. E.g drinking far too much alcohol and putting yourself in a dangerous position.
Shabba Wanks
says...
9:57am Wed 15 Jul 09
He should never have BIN in there though.
dancutter
says...
10:58am Wed 15 Jul 09
He'll never be the Head of a major corporation.
He died wot he love doing, Boozin, wot a way..
Hawker101
says...
11:24am Wed 15 Jul 09
mothy
says...
11:32am Wed 15 Jul 09
7:40pm Tue 14 Jul 09
but who empties bins on a sunday morning and how are visitors ment to know they are emptied daily??
==================
er - they do in my street thanks..
Jay Mollison
says...
11:45am Wed 15 Jul 09
Anyway I smell negligence from the Bin men, just like when they leave litter everywhere.
leedsnowfan
says...
12:14pm Wed 15 Jul 09
debs21
says...
2:06pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Rostrum
says...
2:22pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Ever weekend people come to Brighton with the intention of staying up ‘all night’ and getting the early trains home.
The first train on a Sunday morning to London is about 3:30 AM.
This chap probably realised he’d left his mates too early and decided to find somewhere out of the rain.
Unfortunately he chose a big-black bin instead of a shop doorway or all night café.
The new bin Lorries are operated by one person, from the cab.
They drive up to and align with the big black bins and then empty them through a ‘top hatch’ into the lorry.
There’s no checking etc. The whole process takes a few seconds.
Spreadly
says...
3:37pm Wed 15 Jul 09
IDIOT!
Hammer 66
says...
4:09pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Pat Mustard
says...
5:54pm Wed 15 Jul 09
L1103 wrote:A). Regardless of if you are a visitor or a local, the frequency of bin emptying shouldn't really be the deciding factor in choosing to sleep in one or getting your head down somewhere (anywhere) else.
are you all forgetting something a man has died here! i agree maybe it wasnt a good thing to do but who empties bins on a sunday morning and how are visitors ment to know they are emptied daily?? it was a mistake yes and im sure now he wont ever do it again cant you give his friends and family some sympathy ????
B). Valid point. I really think he probably has learned his lesson and won't be doing it again.
Those who can't, teach PE
witchy1
says...
8:52pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Carl Bugenhagen
says...
9:17am Thu 16 Jul 09
Julian 137
says...
1:31pm Thu 16 Jul 09
Scott was an upbeat, positive sort of guy and his sudden death has shocked his family, friends and colleagues.
While the circumstances of his death are unusual, I feel sickened when I read some of the posts on here. It is all too easy to be critical and type snide remarks shielded by the anonymity of the web but real people, people who knew Scott, read these posts too, so please put yourself in our shoes before hitting the submit button.
Scott, you were a great guy and will be sorely missed by many.
RIP Scotty.
Julian.
Hammer 66
says...
1:59pm Thu 16 Jul 09
Daz.lon
says...
9:30pm Thu 16 Jul 09
I think people are forgetting something, It was raining heavy,he was a long way from his home and had nowhere to sleep that night. I guess he just jumped in to shelter from the heavy rain and cold and must have falling asleep. Its strange how he never woke up when they started moving the bins though.
Asiseeit
says...
5:53pm Fri 17 Jul 09
Daz.lon wrote:Errr.......So where did the friend live that he was visiting? Where did his brother also live that he was visiting?
The whole thing is very sad. I recognised his photo as being a regular at my local gym in Willesden green. I think people are forgetting something, It was raining heavy,he was a long way from his home and had nowhere to sleep that night. I guess he just jumped in to shelter from the heavy rain and cold and must have falling asleep. Its strange how he never woke up when they started moving the bins though.
In this day and age everybody has a mobiel phone, it wouldnt of been to hard to give either of the above a call to see where they were or to crash at theres.
The whole thing stinks and the police seriously need to look further into this.
Asiseeit
says...
5:53pm Fri 17 Jul 09
Daz.lon wrote:Errr.......So where did the friend live that he was visiting? Where did his brother also live that he was visiting?
The whole thing is very sad. I recognised his photo as being a regular at my local gym in Willesden green. I think people are forgetting something, It was raining heavy,he was a long way from his home and had nowhere to sleep that night. I guess he just jumped in to shelter from the heavy rain and cold and must have falling asleep. Its strange how he never woke up when they started moving the bins though.
In this day and age everybody has a mobiel phone, it wouldnt of been to hard to give either of the above a call to see where they were or to crash at theres.
The whole thing stinks and the police seriously need to look further into this.
Asiseeit
says...
5:54pm Fri 17 Jul 09
Daz.lon wrote:Errr.......So where did the friend live that he was visiting? Where did his brother also live that he was visiting?
The whole thing is very sad. I recognised his photo as being a regular at my local gym in Willesden green. I think people are forgetting something, It was raining heavy,he was a long way from his home and had nowhere to sleep that night. I guess he just jumped in to shelter from the heavy rain and cold and must have falling asleep. Its strange how he never woke up when they started moving the bins though.
In this day and age everybody has a mobiel phone, it wouldnt of been to hard to give either of the above a call to see where they were or to crash at theres.
The whole thing stinks and the police seriously need to look further into this.
For Every Sprinkle I Find says...
6:04pm Tue 14 Jul 09