Music writer dies in crash (From Cotswold Journal)

Music writer dies in crash

11:00am Friday 10th August 2012 in News

A TALENTED music journalist from the Vale of Evesham has died in a crash in south Wales.

Tributes have been pouring in for former Prince Henry's High School pupil James McLaren, who had worked as an assistant producer for BBC Wales for the past six years.

The 34-year-old died in a road collision on the M48 eastbound between Magor and Chepstow on Monday morning. It is believed he had been outside his car when it happened.

In a statement released through Gwent Police, Mr McLaren’s parents said their son was “greatly loved” and would be greatly missed both by his devastated family and his many friends.

They said: “On Flickr, where he shared his wonderful and wide ranging photos, he described himself as a ‘music and F1 geek’, but he had many other enthusiasms – his friends, his dogs, journalism, ornithology, history and Warhammer gaming.

He’d been an active and happy resident of Cardiff since 1996, when he moved to the city as a student.

“He was involved in music, journalism and music journalism from his first arrival.

However he still had many connections in Worcestershire, and particularly Evesham, where he attended Prince Henry’s.

“All those close to him loved him deeply and we would wish he had been with us for many more years, but those years he had were busy, useful and lived to the full.”

BBC Cymru Wales director Rhodri Talfan Davies said Mr McLaren was known by many for his inspiring commitment to and support for Welsh music.

He said: “His regular blogs on Welsh music for our online services showed a real love for his subject, an encyclopaedic knowledge, and a deep commitment to support new talent.

“I know that his lively personality, his inimitable sense of humour and his prodigious talents will be sadly missed by all those who worked with him.

Our thoughts are with his family, colleagues and friends at this difficult time.”

Bands including Lostprophets and Manic Street Preachers have paid tribute to Mr McLaren on Twitter, while a statement from the Welsh Music Foundation – where he had created, edited and managed monthly newsletter Sound Nation before joining the BBC – said he would be missed enormously.