Tributes to Holmfirth road accident death man Shane Apperley

Oct 7 2009 By Sam Casey

Shane Apperley

DEVASTATED colleagues of a head chef have paid tribute to him after he was tragically killed in a road accident.

Shane Apperley, 40, was in collision with a Mercedes recovery truck near the former Midlothian garage site on New Mill Road in New Mill, near Holmfirth, at about 10.35pm on Monday. He died at the scene.

Mr Apperley, a married father-of-two from New Mill, ran the kitchen and was part of the management team at White Rose House old folks’ nursing home on Huddersfield Road in Thongsbridge.

Staff at the home, where he worked for five years, have been left distraught by the news.

Manager Christine Evans said: "Shane was very well respected and very well liked by his colleagues.

"We have been taken aback by the impact of what has happened on us all.

"It has been a massive shock and everyone has been knocked for six."

Mr Apperley, who was originally from Cardiff, was a chef of 20 years who had worked in hotels and restaurants across the UK.

He idolised Gordon Ramsay and took a leaf out of the celebrity chef’s book in the kitchen.

Ms Evans said: "Nutrition is a very important part of the life of White Rose and the role that Shane played was absolutely vital.

"He went out of his way to meet the requirements of all the residents, to make their meals as appetising and attractive as possible.

"He was very keen on high quality produce and would try lots of different things to keep the residents interested.

"He brought the care centre to a point of excellence in terms of food.