A FORMER pupil of Francis Combe school who was due to marry this year was killed in a car crash on New Year's Day.

Richard Hammond, 21, who had recently started work as a cook at Long Island Exchange in Rickmansworth, died at the scene of the accident in Langleybury Lane at 7.40am. No one else was involved in the accident.

Mr Hammond, who grew up in Jackett's Field, Abbots Langley, left home in 1992, and lived in Essex then Blackburn.

One month ago he moved back to live with his sister Carole and her husband in Chapel Way, Bedmond.

It is believed that he was going to Chapel Way when the accident happened.

His car, a blue D-registration Ford Escort, was travelling towards Hunton Bridge when it veered out of control on an icy bend near the entrance of Francis Combe school.

The car crossed the carriageway and collided with a chainlink fence marking the perimeter of Home Farm, coming to rest against a large tree.

Mr Hammond died of multiple injuries.

Mr Hammond's parents separated in 1992. His father Tom, 52, who worked for Rolls-Royce in Leavesden, now lives in Houghton Regis, near Dunstable. His mother Lyn, 48, who worked at the Scope centre in Jackett's Field, lives in Doncaster.

Mr Hammond had two brothers and one sister - Peter, 28, Carole, 27, and Paul, 19.

He was engaged to Lisa Gibbins, 20, from Essex, with whom he had been living for four years in Blackburn. They planned to wed in the summer.

Those who were close to Richard Hammond saw a great change in him in the last month of his life.

Family said he was a troubled teenager when he left home in 1992, after his parents separated. He moved to Essex, then Blackburn, drifting between odd jobs and life on the dole.

His brother Peter said: "We just couldn't believe the change in Richard when he came back in December. His whole outlook on life had changed.

"Richard was always a wild child but when our parents split up he really went off the rails. Over the last few years he fell out with everyone at one time or another.

"When he came back a month ago he made his peace with all the people he had fallen out with before. It was as if he knew what was going to happen."

His sister Carole said: "Richard was always a bit of a tearaway. He was a difficult character to live with when he was younger.

"When he came back to live with us he was so much more positive about his life and his personal relationships.

"It was always a laugh being around Richard - he was up for anything, and always wanted to be in the middle of whatever was happening.

"He loved kids, and was a great favourite with his neices Katie, Charly and Leanne, and his nephew Terry."

Eight-year-old Katie always knew Richard as the "big laughing clown".

The funeral is on Tuesday, January 13, at Garston Crematorium, at midday.

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