The family of David Crane, left to right, daughter Debora Elachraoui, widow Philomena and daughter Verity Crane

by Tricia Jamieson

The grieving family of a man killed in a head-on crash have spoken of their “loving, funny and caring” husband and father.

David Crane, 61 (pictured below), died at the scene of the accident just past the Esso garage in Rolvenden Road, Tenterden.

He was on his way home to High Street, Rolvenden, when his gold Skoda Fabia was in a crash with a grey Renault Laguna, driven by a Frenchman, at 11.30pm on Friday. He was prounounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Mr Crane’s widow, Philonema, said: "It is such a shock and was so sudden.

"He had been helping out a friend by doing deliveries for a takeaway Chinese restaurant and was on his way home.

"I was worried about him because I was waiting for him to come home. I was calling his mobile but it kept coming up not available.

"Then about midnight the police knocked on my door and said there had been an accident."

Mrs Crane, 57, contacted her twin daughters Verity Crane and Debora Elachraoui, who are 35, and they have been with her since.

"I could not have got through this without them," said Mrs Crane.

"David was not supposed to be working. He helped a friend sometimes with deliveries at the Happy Valley Chinese restaurant in St Michaels and agreed to go in on Friday because someone was on holiday.

"He was very friendly with everyone and sociable."

Mr Crane was born and brought up in Rolvenden and had lived in the village all his life. He went to Rolvenden Primary School then to Homewood.

After leaving school he worked as a roadie for Status Quo, giving up when the twins were born.

He then worked as a postman for a number of years doing deliveries and in the sorting office.

David Crane died in a crash in Rolvenden Road, Tenterden

Since the early 1990s, Mr Crane had been a carer for his wife, who suffered back and arm injuries in an accident and has other medical problems, and was also supporting daughter Verity, who also has medical problems.

"He would help anyone out," said Miss Crane. "He was so well known in the village.

"He was a caring, loving father and husband. He would do anything for anyone and was very funny.

"He loved music and knew more about the current scene than we do."

Mr Crane was a keen collector of antiques, mainly books, records and jewellery, reading up on the subject.

He met his wife at a disco in Ashford and they married in 1976.