BlogTribute paid to mum and son killed days before Christmas

Tribute paid to mum and son killed days before Christmas

The family of a parent and son who died in a road traffic collision in Oldham days before Christmas have paid their own tribute.

Clair (42) and Sam (15) sadly passed away as a result of their injuries at the scene of a serious road traffic on Ripponden Road.

Officers are still appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following the incident at around 4pm on December 23.

Police had received reports of two vehicles near Denshaw, being in collision.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody for questioning.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have footage, including dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV/doorbell footage from the area in the moments before the collision took place.

Tribute

Their family have said: “Clair was a smart, loving parent, daughter and sister who would do anything for anyone.

“Prior to the pandemic, Clair worked at the Bolton Theatre, supporting those facing Mental Health challenges.

“She loved going to pottery class every week and was such a creative person and she could go from a lump of clay to making whatever she put her mind to.”

“Sam was in Year 11, looking forward to studying music at college; he loved to sing and to play the drums. Listening to music was one of Sam’s favourite things to do, he was always around the house with his headphones on.

“When Sam wasn’t listening to music, he could be found in a world of his own playing on his computer. Sam’s family meant the world to him; he was a brother and son whose loss will leave a hole in our family forever.”

They added that Christmas without Sam and Clair would be immensely difficult for everybody who knew them both.

PC Thomas Johnson, of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts continue to remain with their family who are being supported by officers at this really difficult time.

“If you can help or have any information that may assist our enquiries, then please contact our Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident 2304 of 23/12/2023.

Helen Greaney
Helen Greaney
I'm a journalist with more than 18 years' experience on local, regional and national newspapers, as well as PR and digital marketing. Crime and the courts is my specialist area but I'm also keen to hear your stories concerning Manchester and the greater North West region.
Latest

Debut Author Andrew Bustin Brings Boarding School Memories to Life in Eight Men Rowing

MILTON KEYNES, UK. August 3, 2026 - Andrew Bustin is preparing to introduce readers to Eight Men Rowing, his first published book, arriving on...

Mastercard Study Finds Nigerian SMEs Entering the New Year with Strong Confidence and Expansion Plans

Nigerian small and medium-sized businesses are entering the coming year with an optimistic outlook, according to new findings from Mastercard. Business owners are increasingly...

Former RAF Serviceman Brings Lifelong Dream to Life with Debut Fantasy Adventure

MILTON KEYNES, UK. July 31, 2026 – After years of imagining the world of Antoria, former Royal Air Force serviceman Clive H Almey is...

Jitterbit expands integration capabilities as Manchester businesses turn to cloud-first operations

Manchester's business community is undergoing a quiet but significant shift in how companies manage their software and data. As more firms across the region adopt...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

Mastercard Study Finds Nigerian SMEs Entering the New Year with Strong Confidence and Expansion Plans

Nigerian small and medium-sized businesses are entering the coming year with an optimistic outlook, according to new findings from Mastercard. Business owners are increasingly...

Jitterbit expands integration capabilities as Manchester businesses turn to cloud-first operations

Manchester's business community is undergoing a quiet but significant shift in how companies manage their software and data. As more firms across the region adopt...

Landlords urged to get ahead of repairs as enforcement on housing conditions increases

With expectations around rental property standards continuing to rise, landlords are being advised to make preventative maintenance a priority during the remainder of 2026....

Manchester Businesses Turn to Vehicle Tracking as Fleet Efficiency Becomes a Priority

Manchester's delivery vans, builders' trucks, and service vehicles are quietly getting an upgrade. Not new engines. New eyes. Across the city, more and more companies...

More News

Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month Marks the Start of Two New Charity Partnerships for Mobility in Motion

During Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, Mobility in Motion has announced that it has formed new partnerships with Steel Bones and Finding...

Surprising ways you might be putting your phone at risk

We use our smartphones for everything. Checking traffic, catching up with friends, browsing the sales… they’re our instant source of information. But these devices also provide...

5 Essential health and safety tips for UK workplaces

If you want to keep a UK workplace safe and legally compliant right now, you need to focus on five specific pillars which are...