Disabled man who devoted time to others killed at accident blackspot in Kingstanding

Feb 9 2009 by William Oliphant, Birmingham Mail

THE devastated family of a disabled Birmingham man who died in a road accident at a blackspot told today how he overcame a raft of disabilities to devote his time to helping others.

Relatives of James Sutherland relived the “nightmare” of his death on January 22 as they prepared for his funeral today.

The 27-year-old, of Roedean Road, Kingstanding, was on his way to volunteer at the British Heart Foundation shop in Erdington when he was in collision with a car at the junction of College Road and Hawthorn Road, Kingstanding.

James stood was just over 5ft and was born with a curvature of the spine. He also had learning difficulties and had problems with his bones and kidneys.

His stepfather Ray Allen said: “Even though he was disabled, he never stopped doing stuff. James had so many hobbies and he did so many college courses.

“You see some people who never want to do anything. James wasn’t like that. Even though it was sometimes a struggle for him, he always worked hard.”

His mum Yvonne recalled how she heard the news of his death.

She said: “He left for work and I remember later on hearing the helicopters and sirens but I didn’t think anything of it,” she said.

“Then later a policeman came to the door and said they thought James had been hit by a car and had died.”

And James’s sister Lizzy said: “I thought it was some sort of nightmare rather than reality.

“Even with all his disabilities, he never once complained. He preferred to be helping other people rather than anyone doing anything for him.”

James also did charity work at the Sycamore Court old people’s home in Buxton Road and The Cornershop Coffee Shop in Boldmere Road.

James’s funeral is today at Perry Barr Crematorium at 3.30pm, followed by a reception at the Perry Common British Legion in College Road.