About Oli.

Oliver Charles Lewis, 1987-2007

   Around 2am Sunday 9th December Oliver Lewis died tragically following a car accident near Slough. Despite his great interest in cars Oli was anything but a boy racer, he was a passionate mechanic and his many friends often commented on the quality and care of his driving. He was in the black Mark II Golf he had rebuilt over the summer of 2007, which was his 'every day' vehicle - the mini and Chevy van were his real projects. Click here for Oli's Golf Build Diary.

    Salisbury Scouting's resident bicycle and automobile enthusiast was the most kind hearted, gentle and warm friend I ever knew, and his death as untimely as it is unfair. Oli had been a Wilton Cub, Scout and Explorer Scout before joining the 18-25 section, the Sarum Network, in 2004 and loved every aspect of Scouting, particulalrly camping. Earlier this year Oli represented UK Scouting as a service team member at the 21st World Scout Jamboree. His tent was equipped with a car battery to run the music system, lighting and charging mobile phones (for which he only charged a pound a go!). Oli worked on the Food and Trading team which serviced the 40,000 youngsters from every corner of the globe at Hylands Park near Chelmsford. He was even featured in the Jamboree TV News on the Community Channel! You can watch that video here.

     Oli attended at Barford First School near Wilton before going on to Harnham Junior. Here he passed his 11+ & got a place at grammar school in Salisbury, which he really enjoyed despite finding certain subjects (A-level maths) a bit challenging! He also helped with the technical side of school productions & gained much admiration for his DT projects.

    After leaving Bishop Wordsworths School Oliver had been attending Portsmouth University, studying Engineering, which he loved. He was involved in many automotive projects including restoring and substantially upgrading a classic mini, the complete rebuild of two VW Golfs and the renovation of a 1982 Chevy Van. As a tribute to all the work and enthusiasm Oli had for vehicles, his family are receiving donations to help pay for the completion of the mini, as it was his dream to complete and race it at Castle Coombe Circuit. His friend & fellow car nut Nick Vaughan is making sure the mini is used & maintained as Oli wanted.

    The sheer amount of generous messages of condolence already received is a huge testament to what a good natured, universally likable and friendly chap Oli was, and was to all. He will be remembered for his passion for cars, bicycles and all things mechanical, for his patient, sensible yet motivated and positive approach to work, and for his keen, cheerful, optimistic and generous view of life and it's personalities. Without him many of his friends would never have been to Andorra or learnt to ski, had their cars & bikes so well advised, or had someone so cheerful, clever or sympathetic to enjoy the company or bend the ear of.

   Our hearts are with his family, doubly so after the death of his grandfather last month which had a deep impact on Oli. The funeral service took place at 11:30am at The Church of St Mary & St Nicholas, Wilton on Friday 21st December, and it was standing room only. Thank you to everyone who attended, it was a wonderful service & some very fitting & heartfelt tributes were made by Oli's brothers Jamie & Alex, his uncle, Chris Lewis, friend of the family John Fenston, Scouting friends Sara-Jane Middleton & Jennie Shearing, John Fry & fellow car enthusiast Nick Vaughan. Huge thanks go out to all who have shown and offered their support. A great friend and wonderful young man suddenly taken but never forgotten. 

John Fry 

a friend

Some Information about Oli:

Please email me here with your suggestions, additions or alterations to these pages. We'd like to make a whole site about Oli, his life and projects so do get in touch with photos, comments or anything you'd like to say about him & we'll publish it on here.