FORMER Ely Community College pupil, David Macgregor-Shailes, has been killed in a road crash in Norfolk. David, 18, who lived in Ely for five years before moving to Hilgay with his family, was killed in an accident on the A10 near his home. College pupil

FORMER Ely Community College pupil, David Macgregor-Shailes, has been killed in a road crash in Norfolk.

David, 18, who lived in Ely for five years before moving to Hilgay with his family, was killed in an accident on the A10 near his home.

College pupils learnt of the news of David's death from staff the morning after the accident on Sunday, March 9. Many were too upset to attend lessons and were sent home.

David died shortly after arriving at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn following the collision with a car near the junction with Ely Road.

He had spent the evening playing poker at his home in Steeles Drove with a friend from Ely.

When his friend left he decided to go out for a walk and was involved in the accident at about 1.30am.

"He was a loveable rogue," said his mother, Susan Shailes. "He was loved by everybody who came across him. There wasn't anyone who didn't love him.

"He was cheeky and cheerful - an absolutely amazing boy."

Mrs Shailes and her husband, Anthony, were originally from Norfolk but moved their family to Beresford Road, Ely so that Mr Shailes could commute to his London-based job in network advertising.

David sat six GCSEs at Ely Community College and worked part-time at the Budgen's shop at the Witchford Road service station.

He joined Ely's Sixth-Form College for a while before the family moved back to Norfolk.

"We wanted to get back to the country," said Mrs Shailes, who also has a younger son, Callum, 14.

"David had been working part-time and he wanted to be a painter decorator. We had been paying for driving lessons for him and he was looking forward to passing his test so that he could visit his friends in Ely."

David spent his spare time playing computer games and walking his German Shepherd and Lurcher dogs.

His funeral service will take place at Mintlyn Crematorium in King's Lynn on April 3 at 11.30am.

The families have asked for donations to the accident and emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn.

Community college head teacher Ian Gartshore, said: "We are deeply saddened at the tragic death of a young person especially in these circumstances. David was a lively member of the school and popular among his peer group and had a wide circle of close friends."