MEMBERS of the Callington and Gunnislake community will be remembering Kye Thomas, who died in the M5 collision last Friday, in Remembrance services this weekend.

Kye, a 38-year-old devoted family man with four children, was one of two men driving Callington-based Ginsters pasty makers' lorries, who were killed in the 34-vehicle pile up near Taunton.

He had just moved with his family to St Ann's Chapel. The second fatality was named as Terry Brice from Bristol. Another employee, also believed to be from East Cornwall, was injured in the collision.

Both lorries involved in the accident left the Callington depot on Friday evening.

The cause of the crash remains unknown although smoke from a nearby fireworks display is being investigated as a possible cause. The terrible pile-up left seven dead and 51 people injured.

Ginsters' parent company Samworth Brothers Ltd said this week it was 'very shocked and saddened' by the death of two of its drivers.

Company director Mark Samworth said: 'The thoughts of everyone at Samworth Brothers are with the families and friends of all these individuals and others involved in this terrible incident.

'Our main priority at the moment is to offer as much support and help as needed to the families of those who have died and to the injured driver and his family. 

'It is also a very difficult time for other colleagues at Samworth Brothers Distribution and we are ensuring our people are being well supported.'

More than 700 people work at the Ginsters Callington plant which was bought by Samworth Brothers in 1977.

At the Ginsters-sponsored firework display at Callington Community College on Saturday Portreeve of the town Karen Gold asked the hundreds of people who gathered to take some moments to reflect on the tragedy and the impact on the families of the people who had died and were injured. At that time Mr Thomas had not been confirmed as a victim.

She told the East Cornwall Times this week: 'Ginsters is such an integral part of our community and we all know someone who works there or travels that stretch of the M5 every day. When I saw the Ginsters lorries on the news pictures, I thought "Oh, My God".

'It is such a tragedy and all our thoughts are with the Thomas family at this time.'

Her comments were reiterated by the chairman of Calstock Parish Council Jane Moore.

Rector of Callington Peter Sharpe said lorries were still coming and going from the Ginsters factory, as if it was business as usual, but it was a different place this week.

'Ginsters is a big part of Callington in a lot more ways than just being an employer, and it will be a long time before things feel normal again.

'Most of us cannot imagine what it would be like to find one day a father, husband or son taken from us like this — it is a huge thing but as a community we can offer support.

'Remembrance Day services this weekend will give people an opportunity to gather together, to think, remember and pray.'

Mr Thomas leaves a widow Becki and daughters Jordan, 12 and Trinity-Rose, 16 months and sons Kane, 11 and Conner, nine.

Mrs Thomas said her husband was just about to set up a new Taekwondo club with close friend Dale Trevail and was really happy when he left for the night shift on Friday.

She said he was a really hands-on dad who 'flourished' in the role: 'There were certain things that only Kye did,' she said.

'He took Jordan to Taekwondo, where she got her yellow tag. She looks just like him and has his sensitive nature. He was always the one who bathed Trinity-Rose. I haven't been able to do that yet.'

Callington's Remembrance Service will take place at St Mary's Church on Sunday (November 13) at 3pm, following a parade from the town hall and the laying of wreaths at the war memorial outside the church.