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TRIBUTES PAID TO MURDER VICTIM ALEX Report by Henry James
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular shop worker from Skelmersdale found murdered in woodland in Parbold. Railway enthusiast Alex Davies, 18, has been described as a “lovely young man”, a “nice, polite lad” and “amazing to work with.” And his boss at the Home Bargains store in Skelmersdale said he was a friendly character who enjoyed his job and loved working with customers. A murder investigation was launched after police were called at around 5.25pm on Wednesday, May 1 when a body was found in a wooded area off Parbold Hill. A Home Office post-mortem later confirmed the cause of death as stab wounds and asphyxiation. Alex was reported missing from home on Tuesday, April 30 but the last confirmed sighting was at about 2pm the previous day on Station Road, Parbold, near to the railway bridge. Detective chief inspector Geoff Hurst, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major investigation Team said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of every member of the team that have worked on this inquiry are with Alex’s family and friends at this exceptionally tragic and difficult time. “I am aware of the huge impact this crime has had on the community of Parbold, but I
17-year-old charged after body of popular shop worker is found in wooded area near Parbold Hill
am heartened at the way that same community has pulled together and been so respectful to Alex, his family and to my officers who have been out trying to find the evidence that we need.” A 17-year-old from Chorley has since been arrested and charged with murder, He appeared before magistrates at Preston on Monday, May 6 and was remanded to appear at Preston Crown Court today (Wednesday, May 8). Since news of the tragedy a number of tributes have been paid to Alex online, while floral tributes have been left near to Parbold Hill by family and friends . Heidi Bolster Cahill wrote on the Skelmersdale Police Facebook page: “Been a pleasure being your neighbour all these years and watch you grow in to such a lovely young man. Rest in peace Alex.” Yvonne McLean commented: “I knew Alex briefly and he was a nice polite lad.” Simon Driscoll posted on Facebook: “Stunned and saddened to hear about Alex Davies, an amazing lad to work with when I was at the BHF, always willing to help anyone and turn a negative into a positive. Such a young age to go. RIP Alex.” Good friend Leon Kamel added: “Forever in
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our hearts. Rest easy my friend.” Alex had worked at Home Bargains for two years and had recently been promoted. He also had a love of railways and had the nickname ‘Pacer ’ after the rail units. Blogger Green Rail commented: “Rest in peace Alex Davies. “Alex took great interest in the WiganSouthport route when it was in development a few years ago and his knowledge, especially of the Parbold area, helped greatly.” Ian Hardman, an “avid railway and aviation photographer with a passion for transport and engineering” wrote a tribute to Alex on his Facebook page and posted a picture of a Pacer. He commented: “I’d like to take a short moment of time to dedicate this, though not entirely remarkable photograph, to a kind young man that we lost this week. “Alex Davies, who went for a time on social media with the nickname ‘Pacer ’, was a lovely lad and was doing some good things for charity most recently. “I would like to pass on my condolences to Alex’s family at this most awful of times. “Rest in peace, young Alex. You were taken from us far too soon my friend. Rest easy and go and ride that great Pacer in the sky for me, mate!”
Alex Davies
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