A YOUNG Hampshire bridegroom who died in an horrific car crash just hours before his wedding will always be remembered for his "wonderful smile".

Tributes today continued to pour in for popular 24-year-old John Thick, who was on his way home with his brother and friends when the car they were travelling in smashed into a brick wall. The scene of the crash outside a house in Oakmount Road has now become a shrine, with floral tributes all reflecting John's lov-ing and caring char-acter.

Messages in-clude: "He always made me smile and enjoyed life", "I will miss your laughter and smiles" and "To a great person so tragically taken from us".

John was due to marry 23-year-old Katie Blackwood (both are pictured above) at St Boniface Church in Chandler's Ford, near where they lived. Some of the guests had already turned up at the church on Saturday, only to be told the heartbreaking news.

It was originally thought that John had been on his stag night when the accident happened but police later confirmed the event had taken place on an earlier occasion.

St Boniface church choir member Carolyn Darbyshire, who was due to sing at the couple's wedding, spoke of how the close-knit community was ral-lying around the grief-stricken families to help them come to terms with such a sad loss.

John had been a popular member in Chandler's Ford Scouting circles. For many years he was a Cub Scout and Scout with the 4th Chandler's Ford (Hiltingbury) Group. Mrs Darby-shire, who is also Chandler's Ford district commissioner, said: "He was a very likeable, caring young person and had such a won-derful smile. He always lived up to the ideals of Scouting and always did his best.

He always looked after his family, friends and others." John had also been a member of the choir at St Martin's church - St Boniface's daugh-ter church. Police said a 25-year-old man has been released on bail pending further inquiries following the accident.

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