Romford station sorry after memorial flowers removed following Collier Row man’s death
David 'Big Dave' Jacobs worked as a liveried waiter for Lloyds of London for 30 years before he died of a heart attack last week - Credit: Archant
A widow has spoken of her outrage after flowers paying tribute to her husband who died of a heart attack were removed from a train platform.
Jan Jacobs is upset that floral tributes to her husband have been removed by Romford station after he died there after a heart attack. Seen here with some fresh tributes and sympathy cards - Credit: Archant
David “Big Dave” Jacobs, 60, died while he waited for the train in Romford to take him to work as a liveried waiter in Lloyds of London last week.
The flowers laid on the platform in his memory were taken away two days later.
“I am quite cross,” said Jan Jacobs, 59, of Moorland Close, Collier Row, “I found out from a friend they had been removed and we were both really angry.”
“They were in a back room out of the way so train drivers couldn’t see them.”
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Jan was told by station staff that drivers are reminded of people who commit suicide when they see the flowers.
“My husband didn’t have a choice. He didn’t choose to have a heart attack and die on the platform,” she said.
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“Why couldn’t they have been moved somewhere else where the drivers don’t see them so people can pay their respects?
“A friend picked them up, we didn’t want to leave them. It wasn’t OK to take them down.”
Station staff have apologised to Jan and have agreed to find a spot to put some yellow roses, Dave’s favourite flower, where people can pay their respects.
Howard Smith, TfL’s operations director for Crossrail, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the gentleman who passed away.”
Dave and Jan had been married for 35 years and had one son, “Little Dave”, who died of leukaemia four years ago.
“The only godsend is they are together now,” she added.
Every year the family have held a five-a-side football tournament in memory of Little Dave with the fifth one due to take place on Sunday.
“My husband had a very thick moustache, so this year we are all going to wear them in his memory,” added Jan.
She described Dave as a genuine, kind, and family-orientated man who loved his job, where he worked for 30 years.
Big Dave’s funeral will take place at 3.30pm in South Essex Crematorium in Corbets Tey next Friday (July 31)..
