The driver's family will be reunited with him... we won't see Rik again

Feb 27 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

THE family of tragic hit-andrun victim Rik Adams today paid tribute to the "lovely, happy and successful" family man.

The doting dad was killed in an horrific car crash last May as he went to meet wife Susan to buy food for son Blake's first birthday party.

The 34-year-old chartered surveyor at Birmingham firm Nattrass Giles was a keen rugby player with Old Silhillians.

His brother, Mark, fought back tears to pay an emotional tribute.

"Rik was a lovely, happy and successful man who was killed by a driver whose actions showed a complete disregard for anyone else.

"He brought a powerful car for which he had no insurance, filled it with young men and drove at speeds which were beyond his capabilities.

"When the inevitable happened he ran from the scene, leaving Rik to die.

"Rik was only 34 years old, with a brilliant life and career ahead of him. His wife Susan has been left to raise their son and newborn daughter on her own.

"We have lost a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend."

Mr Adams added: "The family of the driver will be reunited with him after he has served his sentence. We will never see Rik again. Nothing can compensate us for our loss.

"We know other inexperienced drivers are free to inflict such devastation on others until there is a change in the law."

Mum Gillian said she wanted young drivers under 25 treated the same as motorcyclists and prevented from owning high-powered cars.

While satisfied with the sentence, she added nothing would ever replace such an important member of their family.

She said the congregation at Knowle Church, where the couple married and where Rik was buried, had been wonderful support.

After discovering she was pregnant last year, his wife Susan said: "At least Rik's legacy will continue with our second child."