Driving from his place of work at MKD Valeting in Blue Town on the evening of November 8th 2001, 7:40PM, Mark had a fatal accident in Brielle Way Sheerness,when the car he was driving slid across the road and hit a short length of a six foot wall,no other vehicles were involved, and according to the Police,the Peugeot 205 1.6 Gti was in good working order, (only Rear Tyre was flat, which could have happened on impact). It was noted that he was not wearing his seat belt, which members of his family thought unusual because he was a good conscious driver, although he was known as "Car Mad" In tribute to him his parents said (Philip Dad) "Mark was fun loving and car mad. He had been driving for nine years. I taught him to drive because I was a Driving Instructor. If you needed any help then he was always there. We believe he was coming home that evening in order to change his clothes before going out again". (Lynne Mother) "He was a lovable rogue in the best sense of the expression, Our phone has not stoppered ringing with people paying tributes". (Laurie Grandfather) "Mark was a good driver, it was in his blood. He lived for his cars, but was not reckless. he was a young man, and when I was his age I tried to stand Army vehicles up on there noses. I don't think he was any different". ( June Grandparent ) " Mark was a lovely lad, I never saw him lose his temper, he would rather do you a good turn than a bad one". (Alan, Marks best friend), (This was part of the Funeral Service readout by Canon Spensor) "Mark to me is a very special friend, or as he would say 'mate',who will be sadly missed. Mark was a very friendly and likeable person as you can see by the amount of people who have come to pay their last respects. he was always happy-go-lucky and never seemed to worry about things, and I admired him for that. He worked very hard to make his business work so he could support his family which he loves very much - but I know he will be still looking out for them. A lot of people will be at a loose end, especially when they finish work at the week-ends as Mark was one of those people you could always count on being in the same place - his workshop. Marks main obsession in life was his cars and I feel it ironic that this obsession he loved was the very obsession he died for. Mark, you will always be a very special friend to me, that I will never forget you, but will miss you dearly. (Miguel Hernandez (24) friend) who was left paralysed from the waist down after a motorbike crash in March 2000, said " Following my accident I was in Stoke Mandeville Hospital for three months and Mark visited me every weekend, come rain or shine. It's at times like that when you realize who your friends are. he was there when I came round after the accident and later he would sneak me out of the hospital to a pub because he knew how much I like a drink now and then. He would do anything for anyone at any time of day or night. He had a heart of gold and could always be relied upon". (Work College and friend Steve Leach who runs Blue Town Motors)" All our thoughts go out to his family,Mark had been renting part of my business unit for his valeting for a while, but I have known him for nine years. We had our moments, of course, but he was a great lad and he'd do anything for you. The tragic thing is that he leaves little Dyllan without a dad. Mark loved his family and idolized his son". (Georgina Thomas Friend (23))." Mark will be terribly missed. He was a good friend, in some ways he was to generous for his own good,. I will remember him as a comical character, who would help anyone, even people he didn't know". (Tim Harris (26). "We were both interested in aerostats how we met,he was a top bloke, there wasn't much to fault him. it ironic that he died doing something he loved, ------ driving his car". Around the time of the accident the Police were appealing for witnesses to the crash, at this stage there is no indication as to why the car left the road, no other were vehicles involved so it remains a mystery. (November 2001). GAZETTE & TIMES, Wednesday, 24 April, 2002 (Local Press Report) Soft Tyre played part in tragedy AN UNDER-inflated Tyre could have I caused the death of a Sheppey business- man, an inquest was told. Mark LeMasonry (26), of Foxley Road, Queenborough, died when his Peugeot 205 crashed into a wall on the A249 Brielle Way. There were no witnesses to the fatal crash at 7.40pm on 8 November, shortly after Mr LeMasonry had left work at MKD car valeting which he ran in High Street, Blue Town, Sheerness. An inquest at Gillingham on Thursday was told investigations showed Mr LeMasonry, who had a four-year-old son, had been driving at 50mph --10mph below the speed limit -- when he lost control. The car spun clockwise, hitting the kerb, before colliding with the wall. Pathologist Dr David Rouse said Mr LeMasonry suffered severe injuries to his skull, brain and lungs. There was no evidence of alcohol or drug use. PC Jim Walker said no defects to the car had been found, although the rear left tyre was deflated. Further investigations showed Mr LeMasonry had been aware of a slow puncture and a mechanic had suggested he took the car to Kwik Fit. A mechanic and friend of Mr LeMasonry, who saw the car on the day of the crash,said he would estimate the tyre was as low as 10 to 12 pounds per square inch. PC Walker said: "It may be considered as an aggravating factor to the driver subsequent loss of control. " He added that the tyre would not have been the sole cause of the accident. Police also looked into the possibility that an animal or person may have caused Mr Le Masonry to take evasive action, although no evidence was found to support this. An accident verdict was recorded. It was Marks wish that he had a Horse Drawn Hearse and was Buried in a Cemetery, His wishes were carried out with a Funeral Service at Minster Abbey Church of St Marys and St Sexburga Minster Sheppey on November 21st at 11.30 am, the Service was put together by Lynne and Cannon Spencer and conducted by both, Marks mother Lynne who was a Lay Minister at that church. The Church was full to capacity, and at the cemetery, the St John Ambulance Brigade (Sheppey Division), formed a Guard of Honor along the footpath to the open grave, in respect of their colleague. Do not stand at my grave and weep - I am not there, I do not sleep I am a thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glint of snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the gentle autumn rain When you awaken in the mornings hush I am the swift up-lifting rush Of quiet birds in circle flight I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry - I am not there, I did not die. Anon This verse was the last entry on the printed service sheet. Mark ran his own business a Car Valeting Service called MKD, which stood for Mark, Karen, DJ, after members of his family.