The family of a Bristol man who died after a collision between his motor scooter and a van have said he was a caring, supportive man with an infectious laugh who had left his family too soon.
Ronnie Corbett, 71, suffered a head wound in a crash in New Station Way near Fishponds Library, at 1.15pm on Tuesday, June 5.
He died five days later, no Sunday, June 10, at Southmead Hospital, with his family at his bedside.
Mr Corbett’s daughter Amanda Rosslee said the family had been rocked by the news and were struggling to come to terms with what had happened.
“It feels like someone’s pressed a big pause button,” she said. “There’s no book telling you what to do.
“We were a really close family, him and me and my sister and our kids. I have twin boys doing their GCSEs, they’re really upset obviously.
“I have an older boy with autism, he’s 25, he used to spend all his time with him, he was like his shadow – he’s taking it really hard.”
Despite the shock of her father’s tragic death Amanda said the family have found comfort in the huge number of messages that have poured in for Ronnie from friends and acquaintances.
“We’ve had hundreds of messages, they’ve been absolutely pouring in. I knew he was popular but I had no idea how popular.
“He was involved with a lot more people than I realised. I went down to his local, the Spotted Cow, and they were so lovely. They have a photo of him, its up on the wall next to the fruit machine, where he used to sit holding court.”
Mr Corbett was also in the merchant navy – where he used to organise reunions with former members of BTS Formidable at Portishead, he will be sadly missed by his shipmates from those days.
“He had such a busy life,” said Amanda.
Amanda said Mr Corbett had lived in Bristol since the early 70s but he still had a great deal of love for his homeland.
“He met mum in 1978 in Bristol, he’d been living here five to 10 years before that. He worked as a chef at big hotels in town, they just bumped into each other and hit it off.
“He was from Swansea originally and he liked to let everybody know. I’m going to get a Welsh flag to put on the coffin.
“He was a very, very proud Welshman, very patriotic. He’d be down the local, with his Wales shirt having a banter with the lads, they loved him for that. He loved where he came from.”
Mr Corbett’s daughter Shelley Poole said he was a caring, funny man who loved his family. She asked anyone who saw the crash on Tuesday, June 5 to come forward.
She said: “We want people to come forward if they saw anything at all.
“His loss was a tragic one, he wasn’t meant to leave us just yet. We stayed by his bedside morning and night through the days he was in hospital.”
Shelley’s memories of her father are happy ones, him singing and joking with her, Amanda and their mum, Pauline.
“He lit up any room with his fun-loving personality and his daft humour was infectious. He loved our mum more than words could ever say. He taught us to be confident, funny and to be ourselves,” she said.
“I remember him telling me and my daughter stories in funny accents. His terrible but terribly funny long-winded jokes.
“He was an amazing artist, who patiently taught me to draw and paint. An accomplished chef as well and supporter of the elderly - he campaigned strongly for IT connections and libraries for his residents when he worked in sheltered housing.
“I can still hear him singing jambalaya in my head.”
Shelly made reference to her dad’s famous name, saying: “My life was spent explaining that as my surname was Corbett - yes - my dad was in fact called Ronnie and yes he had black hair and glasses and did have a big leather chair.
“In short - he was a caring, supportive man who, though he didn't have two pennies to rub together, found a way to give us everything we ever wanted. He would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it more.
“We will miss him more than words can express.”
His granddaughter, Ellie Mae, said: "He was the best granddad and always cared for me and looked after me.
"I loved the way he always sang out loud and embarrassed me - I wish he was still here to do that."
Mr Corbett’s daughters are asking the council to improve safety at the crossing where he was killed.
“He was at a dropped curb from the cycle lane,” said Amanda.
“The bushes are really big there, it should’ve been cut back. He couldn’t see the van and the van couldn’t see him.
“There’s no sign there saying beware pedestrians - I’m hoping we can get a sign there.”
She said she and the police have both lodged complaints with the council asking for the greenery to be cut back to prevent another tragedy.
Anyone with any information about the crash on Tuesday, June 5, is asked to get in touch with the police Collision Investigation Unit via 101, providing the call handler with the reference CI/108/18.
