Family pay tribute to husband, father, grandfather and ‘popular legend’ from Harpenden

Colin Moxley, 67, died from serious head and chest injuries after a grey Volkswagen collided with him outside the Sainsbury’s store in Bower’s Parade at 11.25am on Tuesday.

Mr Moxley’s family said in a statement today that the grandfather of two, who ran Thorns of Harpenden in the High Street, had the Midas-touch and would be missed by everyone in Harpenden.

The family said: “He was a people person, a popular and respected legend of the town who everyone seems to know.

“He had a heart of gold - anyone who entered his shop with a sad face would leave smiling and laughing. He enjoyed talking and making people happy.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support everyone has offered us.

“There are hundreds of flowers at the spot where we lost him and we’re very thankful that people are showing their love in this way.”

Mr Moxley lived in Harpenden with his wife Yvonne, who he met at a dance in Stevenage in 1968.

He popped the question just two weeks later and they married the following year at St Etheldreda’s Church in Hatfield, before they went on to have two sons – Glenn and Mark.

In 1982 the family moved to Harpenden and Mr Moxley bought a newsagent business that he renamed Colin’s Good News.

Glenn said: “Dad gave a lot of people their first jobs. He had hundreds of paper boys throughout the years, many of whom have paid their respects as they still remember him fondly.”

In 1999, after 17 years at the helm, Mr Moxley sold Colin’s Good News and bought Thorns of Harpenden in the High Street.

“He knew what he wanted with the business and had it designed in a Victorian style, which remains to this day,” said Yvonne.

Mr Moxley ran the shop with his son Glenn, who said: “Dad had a great business mind.

“He saw the potential in things, and people, and would invest in them. Once he put his mind to something he went for it and he had a bit of a Midas-touch.

“He turned the shops around and earned a reputation of being a good, honest man with a bit of cheek thrown in too.”

As well as investing in his own business, Mr Moxley also bought Perrys, the florist shop next door to Thorns, where Yvonne set up trade for ten years.

Mr Moxley collected stamps and enjoyed watching cricket and rugby union. He played for the Harpenden team when he was younger.

Glen and Mark explained his latest project: “Dad was fascinated with the history of the World Wars, particularly the First World War.

“As part of marking one hundred years since the start of the war, he decided to set up a display in the shop as his way of paying respect.

“Initially this was only going to be up for a month but the response dad got from the public was overwhelming. He told us he genuinely had a tear in his eye from the interest shown by people."

Mr Moxley was a regular in a number of pubs in the town, including The Old Cock Inn, The Cross Keys and the Old Bell - where he had his own seat which had a plaque with his name on it.

He was known as ‘Grumps’ by his grandchildren, Charlie and Jack, who will be remember him as a man "bursting with playful energy".

Glenn and Mark said: “He taught us a lot over the years and he always supported and encouraged us and mum. He believed in all of us, he was a real family man.”

Bower’s Parade was closed for a number of hours while emergency services – including air ambulance – attended the crash on January 13.

Scores of floral tributes were left outside Sainsbury's on Wednesday as news of the tragedy spread through the town.

There were also flowers laid by children as young as 10 and 13.

Liz Rollings from the Rollings Wine Company said Mr Moxley was a pillar of the Harpenden business community.

She said: “I've known Colin for 30 years. I used to take my kids down to the sweet shop.

“We are absolutely devastated it's such a loss for the whole town. All his fellow business owners are devastated and on a personal level we have lost a great man."

The driver of the Volkswagen, a woman in her eighties, was treated for shock at the scene and was taken to Luton and Dunstable University Hospital with minor injuries.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident. PC Robert Hauxwell from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit is investigating the collision and said: “Our thoughts are with the man’s family who are being supported by a specialist officer at this very difficult time.

“We would like to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision and would urge anyone who saw the incident itself, or the vehicle and events prior to it, to contact me as soon as possible.”

Contact police on the 101 non-emergency enquiry line with any information about the collision.

The family has organised a book of condolences for people to sign, which is at Thorns in Harpenden High Street.