Cumbrian mum speaks about tragic loss of son on anniversary

Keswick school pupil Kieran Goulding, 15, died along with 16-year-old Chloe Walker on May 24, 2010, when the coach they were travelling in was involved in a crash with a car near Keswick.

A number of other pupils were injured.

The 68-year-old car driver, from Braithwaite, also died in the crash.

At the inquest in 2011 it was found that the incident was caused because he was likely to have dozed off at the wheel.

He had driven his Honda Civic directly into the path of the school bus on the A66.

Coroner David Roberts ruled that they all died as a result of a tragic accident.

Tracey Nicholson is originally from Whitehaven but now lives in Newcastle.

She said: “I had to come away from living over there, I needed to break away.

“In the 10th year, I decided to do all the things that Kieran wanted to do but I’m stuck in lockdown, I wanted to do everything differently. Things have been quite frustrating this year, I hate this time every year - but it’s 10 years now.

“I write things in a diary to him every day but what can I say when you are indoors all the time?”

She said the family has had to live with Kieran’s death every day.

Tracey added that she tried to do many of the things that Kieran would have done. Last year for example, she travelled to New Zealand and toured in a camper van - this year she wanted to do more travel but the coronavirus lockdown has put plans temporarily on hold.

One of the ways that Tracey has paid tribute to Keiran’s memory is through the ‘Kie Park’ a skate/BMX track for children and teenagers in Hensingham.

It was officially opened in 2016 after Tracey and others raised funds.

However fundraising continues as the upkeep of the park runs into thousands every year, although it has support from organisations like Sellafield and the Co-op chain.

Anyone who would like to make a donation, email: traceynicholson24@gmail.com

Alternatively go online to: easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kie