Former Low Moor, Bradford man dies in Florida collision (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Former Low Moor, Bradford man dies in Florida collision

4:18pm Friday 18th December 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

A popular father-of-three who left Bradford for a new life in the US has been killed in a road accident in Florida.

Tributes have been paid to 58-year-old Colin Racey, who lived in the Low Moor area in the 1970s and 80s and became a stalwart of Bradford Hockey Club.

Sources in America say Mr Racey, who moved to America about 15 years ago, was driving his 1999 Ford sport utility vehicle on a two-lane road when he was involved in a collision with an oncoming truck.

A memorial service for Mr Racey, a computer consultant, was due to take place today at a funeral home near his home.

The fatal accident happened on the State Road 60 in southern Osceola County, Florida, at 6.20am on Tuesday.

Friends of Mr Racey said he originally came from the south of England but moved north to study mechanical engineering at the University of Bradford.

He settled in Bradford and is thought to have met his wife, Rosslyn, while living in the area.

Mr Racey moved across the Atlantic in the early 1990s, firstly to Connecticut and then to Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.

Close friend Pete Hodgson, of Clayton, Bradford, said: “It’s one of those unfortunate events and a big shock to everyone.

“He was a good lad and was well known as a character. He had a good sense of humour and was a good bloke to be around.

“I played hockey for a Leeds team and Colin played for Bradford, but we played on the same team during touring matches to Cardiff and Holland.

“I knew him very well and, even after he moved to America, he used to come back for a visit every couple of years.

“Even when you hadn’t seen him for a couple of years, he was always the same. You just needed ten minutes back in his company and it was like he had never been away.

“He was over this summer and said he was really settled over there and was enjoying life. He had been out there quite a considerable amount of time and I think both his daughters were born over there, certainly one of them.

“He played for Bradford Hockey Club since coming to the University and became a stalwart at the club.”

An obituary in an American newspaper said Mr Racey left a son, Ian, two daughters, Claire and Sarah, three brothers, one sister and two grandchildren.