Family tribute to local accountant who died after road crash on A15 at Cranwell

Roger Burman, 63, from Navenby, was retired but had run an accountancy business in Sleaford. He was one of two people killed by the head-on crash on Monday and his family have issued a short statement via Lincolnshire Police.

They say: “He will be sadly missed. He leaves behind his two daughters and partner. Rest in peace and know that we will never forget you.”

The family ask that they be allowed to grieve in private.

Mr Burman was the driver of a green VW Golf involved in the horrific smash. His 58-year-old female passenger is said to be in a very poorly condition in Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, as is the 63-year-old local male driver of a silver Astra, also involved.

Barbara Tunnicliffe, 59, from Heckington, has been named as the passenger who died in the Astra heading towards Lincoln when it was in collision with the Golf Mr Burman was driving in the opposite direction, say police.

Ms Tunnicliffe was administrator at Heckington-based Archaeological Project Services.

Chief executive Liz Bates said they were contacted by Ms Tunnicliffe’s family on Monday evening as she was expected at work the following day. She said: “It was a big shock, very upsetting and we are all devastated and all our thoughts are with her family at the moment.”

She said: “It is just a terrible thing to have happened and we are all so shocked and sad.”

Ms Tunnicliffe worked for APS, a firm specialising in archaeological surveys and digs, for 16 years and staff are planning to make a tribute to a much valued colleague.

Ms Bates said: “Her job title of administrator doesn’t reflect all that she did. We have a team of archaeologists here and Barbara was very much involved in organising that work and making sure the finanance and administration side of that job was covered and made sure reports and invoices went out on time. She knew the job so well for so long. In fact we are wondering how wecould ever replace her, she was so good at the job and was a great team member, very good around the office and a very caring person.”

This brings the total number of deaths on Lincolnshire’s roads to 18 so far this year, compared to six at the same point in 2015.

The Serious Collision Team are appealing for any witnesses who saw the green VW Golf or the silver Astra travelling prior to the collision.

Anyone with information should contact the Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855, quoting incident 112 of March 28.