'Bright and caring' Lee died after fall from quayside

A 26-year-old St Neots businessman died during a trip to Ireland after falling from a quayside. Lee Bray, of Avenue Road, died in Wexford, south-east Ireland, where he had been staying in a B&B during a business trip. It is believed he had been on a night

A 26-year-old St Neots businessman died during a trip to Ireland after falling from a quayside.

Lee Bray, of Avenue Road, died in Wexford, south-east Ireland, where he had been staying in a B&B during a business trip.

It is believed he had been on a night out with work friends and was returning to the B&B in the early hours of Saturday, June 7, when he fell into the water.

Irish police said they were treating Lee's death as an accident.

His grieving family told The Hunts Post this week that they had lost a loving son and a caring brother in tragic circumstances.

Lee's mother Glennys said she would "miss her son terribly".

"He text me late Friday night to let me know he had arrived safely and that was the last contact I had with him," Mrs Bray said.

The family believe a lack of sleep caused by overnight travel mixed with alcohol could have led to his death.

"He had been up all day and all night travelling and was probably exhausted and then he had a drink and this happened," said Mrs Bray.

"He was so young and had such a bright future ahead of him and that's what's so hard. He was a good boy and well behaved. He will be greatly missed by us and all who knew him."

Lee had been sent on business to Ireland by his employer, Primo Products in Milton Keynes.

He had worked for the company since January 2007 climbing his way up to the position of senior site supervisor.

The former Longsands College pupil had described it "as a great job, which he thoroughly enjoyed" and was said to be highly regarded and respected by his colleagues.

He had left for Ireland on Thursday, June 5 and was due back a week later.

His family said when he was not working he spent much of his time buying hi-tech gadgets and teaching his family how to use them.

"He loved gadgets and he had to have the latest and best phone, television, laptop and iPod," Mrs Bray said. "He picked things up quickly and was very bright. He even helped me choose an iPod, I think he was trying to modernise me. We did a lot together."

Lee had two older brothers - Darren, 33, and Wayne, 31 - and a younger sister, Gemma, 21.

Gemma said: "He was funny and always had to make people laugh. He was quite confident and he could walk into a room and make it light up."

Lee was also helping Darren refurbish the family home in Avenue Road.

Mrs Bray said: "They had been taking each room at a time. He could turn his hand to pretty much everything, he was a real handyman.

"He had a list of things he wanted to get done round the house when he got back from Ireland."

INFORMATION: Lee's funeral is taking place on Tuesday (June 24) at 1.45pm at Bedford Crematorium. Floral tributes are welcome and can be sent to Anglia Co-operative Funerals, Huntingdon Street, St Neots.