FRIENDS and former teachers last night paid tribute to a Witney teenager killed in a weekend motorbike crash.

Mark Trinder, 18, died after coming off his black and yellow Suzuki while riding along Thorney Leys towards the A415 at about 7pm on Sunday.

Yesterday friends remembered a sociable and jokey person.

Jack Murphy, 18, from Witney, said Mr Trinder’s death was particularly shocking as he and a group of 18 friends had just come back from a holiday together at Malia in Crete 10 days ago.

He said they had found out about Mr Trinder’s death as they were preparing to enjoy a night out.

He said: “Everyone was just crying and people were devastated.

“There’s just a massive hole left in a group of friends. Everyone loved him. We all miss him and we’ll never forget him.

“Malia was such a laugh and then this has happened.”

Mr Murphy added: “Biking was his big passion. He wanted to do it so much and he wanted to get better.”

Lewis Wood, 18, from Cogges, said: “He was a genuinely nice lad, outgoing and up for a craic.”

A 16-year-old girl, who did not want to be named, said: “He’s pretty much irreplaceable.”

She said: “He couldn’t have been a better friend to be honest. He was just a very jokey person. He had so many friends and it’s hit everyone really hard.”

The former Henry Box School pupil was a trainee coachbuilder at JS Fraser, in Standlake. Managing director Iain Fraser said: “It’s extremely sad and our thoughts are with his parents and family. Mark was in his last year of his apprenticeship at Newbury College and was well on his way to qualifying.

“He was very popular with his colleagues and an extremely valuable member of our team.”

Andrew Jarrett, assistant headteacher at Henry Box School, said: “We’re deeply saddened by the loss of such a well-liked student. Mark will be much missed by the staff and students who knew him.”

Mr Trinder was also a keen cricketer and played for Ducklington from the age of nine. He later played for the Henry Box School team and for Witney Swifts.

Andy Fisher, captain of Witney Swifts’ first XI, also used to coach Mr Trinder at the school.

He said: “He was a very good cricketer. He used to hit the ball very hard, he was quick across the ground, a good fielder and a good bowler – he could do it all.

“I have known him for years, he was a very nice lad. He was very sporty and was keen on his motorbike.”

  • Anyone with information about the crash should call Pc Matt Booker on 08458 505505.