CERYS MATTHEWS is said to be heartbroken at the death of Catatonia roadie BARRY CAWLEY, who died following a collision with a car while he was cycling in North Wales.
The 37-year-old guitar technician from Llanrwst – who BBC report as being one of the founding members of the band Y Cyff (The Bodies), which later became Catatonia – is to be buried today in his home town of Llanrwst today (July 31).
Catatonia guitarist Mark Roberts said: “Cerys is really distraught. Everyone has treated her like a queen, but not Barry. He treated her like a real person. He would tell her something like: ‘Get your own drink’. She appreciated that. He kept her feet on the ground.”
He added that Barry, who had worked with the band for more than 10 years from their early days touring small clubs, was a talented guitarist. “He went to 16 countries with us last year. He was very talented but just as ruthlessly ambitious as the rest of us.”
The driver of the black Fiat Punto which was involved in the accident on July 23 was also killed. He has been named as 36-year-old Gerrard Martin Jacovellie, from Beganwy in north Wales.
North Wales police have appealed for witnesses to the accident, in particular information from anyone who may have seen the Punto prior to the collision, which happened at 2.40pm between Betws-Y-Coed and Llanrwst.