| Location | Canvey Island, Essex |
| Age | 28 years |
| Date of Birth | 5/1979 |
| Date of Death | 5/2007 |
| Visitors | 3,448 since 24/05/2007 |
| Creator |
Daniel had a motorcycle accident on the 8th of May 07, 3 days shy of his 28th birthday,
Daniel had a loving family, a twin brother and a younger brother of 24 who thought of Daniel more
than brothers but best friends also, he also had 3 nieces and 1 nephew all aged between 4 years the
eldest and 6 months the youngest he treated them kids as his own, always proud to speak of them all,
Daniel lived for his family.
Daniel was well thought of by all that knew him, he was always there when help was needed and did
not expect anything in return he was just happy to help, Dan was more known for his joker attitude
his quick wit and one liners that would have you crying in laughter.
Im not going to say to much more as this site is set up for all that knew him to post their own
stories and memories, you will all have a better understanding of who Dan was with the memories that
will be put on this site by family, friends and all that knew him.
A Brothers eulogy.
Before I begin, I would like to thank you all for coming, the support over the last 2 weeks has been
overwhelming, from friends, family, the comments left on the echo news site and from Daniels work,
G4S and the staff at RBSG. The family really do appreciate all you have done. Thank you.
Since preparing for this speech, I have written numerous pages about Daniel, but not happy with what
I had written. But after several cold beers, I remembered how I have been feeling.
One of Dans many friends James, had done the family a video of Daniel and the recent booze cruise he
had gone on. At first I couldn’t watch it as I didn’t need upsetting anymore, but 2/3 days went
by and I decided to watch. All the way through I smiled it was my brother having one of the best
times of his short life. It was Dan being Dan having a fantastic piss up with his friends but this
time it was on a boat, watching this is what has helped me write this speech.
Dan always enjoyed socialising and having a drink, with many memorable nights. One morning I got
up went outside Daniel was cleaning his bike on the drive when my Dad come out the garage and I had
noticed a for sale sign on the neighbour across the roads lawn, I said to my Dad “I didn’t know
lorry was moving “ “nor did I “ said my dad , I noticed Daniel put his head down so I went
over to him and asked if he knew anything about it he said” I think I did it last night” (he
carried a for sale sign home and stuck it in the grass while drunk).
To us Dan was the most genuine person you could ever meet, he never tried to be something he
wasn’t. He would always help and would be there for you without even being asked. He never
expected anything in return. Whether it being giving lifts, running errands, fixing/modifying your
car, you could guarantee him being there, even when it involved hard labour, which was rare for Dan.
One comment shows of Dans helpfulness on the Echo web page. I was reading the echo page and a
young lady had put a comment on there saying she had lost her car keys one night at work, she had
only just started at the bank so she went to security and asked Daniel if any had been handed in,
there wasn’t, she didn’t expect anymore but while she carried on training Daniel went looking
for these keys searched high and low but found them, knowing she would be worried and not able to
concentrate Daniel went and found the lady and gave her her keys, every night he see her leaving he
would shout out “got your keys”.
This leads me on to Dans personality, Dan was a shy individual he did not know, you would get a nod,
a cheeky smile or even a “good morning” if you were lucky. But to his family and friends he was
sarcastic, a practical joker, would wind you up at every opportunity and a classic with his wit and
one liners and would always make you smile. I remember when we were getting our photos done for my
Nan and Granddads 50th wedding anniversary, the photographer said say cheese, sausages, what ever
you like say something that will make you smile, Daniel piped up “hurry up” we did more than
smile.
Dans main passion was his cars, they got louder, faster and were modified in more ways than one.
You may or may not know Dan was a qualified mechanic, but did not enjoy getting cold or wet. So he
became a Security officer and worked at the RBS buildings in Southend. Where he met the best work
colleagues you could ever meet, this is why he never went back into mechanics, but enjoyed his cars
in his spare time.
Dan once brought a mark 2 escort to modify into a rally car, but after closer inspection by my Dad,
as he did with all our cars, he discovered it was rotten. Dan was absolutely gutted, until my Dad
came up with an alternative to turn he escort into a jeep, this they did with Dans slightly extreme
modifications. BOY RACER STYLE.
It was the only jeep I know that was lowered, alloy wheels, quad lights, blue flashing lights,
neon’s.
Daniel was more than a brother to me and Adam he was our best friend, all three off us close we
looked out for one another, to his friends Dan wasn’t just a friend he was more like a brother,
Dan was always there for them and when he needed us we were there for him that was Daniel, I had
asked Daniel to be my best man, that he will remain, my best man, to us all here today Daniel was
the best of men,
I could stand here for hours on end talking about Dan, but I am sure you will be throwing your eggs
and flowers soon. But would like to mention, that a gonetosoon.co.uk there is a tribute to the life
of Daniel, where we are slowly putting stories on, that you can read and enjoy.
INVITE TO OYSTEER FLEET.
THANK YOU.
Cars, cars, cars...
Reading all this I regret only one thing....that I didn't ever, in 7 years of seeing the fella every other day, talk to him about anything other than bloody cars!! I only eat burger and chips too, but didn't know he had the same problem!!
But really though - there are about three people in the world that I take seriously when talking about cars and now we just lost one of them. Like Wayne said at the funeral - 'from the first to the last' - from the first motor to the last motor - all of them, chipped, tuned, decked, pounding, whatever - there weren't a thing that Dan couldn't talk about from experience with motors...I wouldn't like to suggest just how many hours I should have been at my desk but instead spent it talking cars with Dan...! My god, we could talk about the most dull things with severe fascination....dump valves, head skimming blah blah blah....new tyre designs you say?...! ha ha...I could go on....
Every problem I have had, with every car I have owned since 2000, has been run past big Dan. No word of a lie, he was bang on every time - if he didn't get it exactly right, he had always suggested the possibility of what it eventually turned out to be.
First to the last mate, first to the last.
Dumb and dumber
I remember Daniel had watched dumb and dumber and always wondered if you put your tongue on ice would it actually stick, well curiousity got the better of him one day and he put his tongue on a ice cube and guess what it stuck.
After yet another heavy night out Daniel was mean't to be staying with me in the caravan i was staying in over Kings, he was so drunk and wanted to go home after an argument with one of his friends, Daniel could not find the door he was climbing over the table and chairs walking along the walls he even tried to climb out a window, he just couldn't find the door, it had two.
do they sell car mags up there
what can i say bout daniel that hasnt already been said,i worked with him for 3 years or so ,you didnt have to ask daniel anything to do cause he had already done it before you asked,we used to laff bout all sorts of things,me being 50 ish or as dan would say OLD,on our team me ,dan and ata would ask pop quiz questions me and ata very serious would think of the answer but daniel would straight away say SPICE GIRLS as the answer then give his cheeky grin.When he went to tesco for bits and pieces i would think i bet dan comes back with a FORD or MOTOR magazine and sure enough back would come daniel with his bits of shopping and HIS MAGS .thanks for the memories DANIEL always think of you even when i,m OLD.XXX
A Tribute To A Great Friend
Daniel Taylor was one of the funniest people that I have had the pleasure of meeting. Sometimes he would make me laugh without actually intending to!
I grew up with Dan and his twin brother Wayne from an early age at Canvey County Primary School, although we were not close friends at the time. We then all attended Castle View Secondary School from the age of eleven. I was not in Dan or Wayne's tutor class but we regularly met throughout the days within different lessons. English was always a good lesson where Dan and I did more talking than work whilst Wayne was top of the class, thats why he achieved a better grade than what we did!
When we all left school in the summer of 1995, I lost contact with Daniel and Wayne for five years until the year 2000. We would regularly come across one another in Kings Nightclub, Canvey Island and basically get paralytic!
Dan's favourite trick was the 'flaming sambuca' in which he would ignite the shot of alcohol within his mouth before swallowing. He had many tiny facial scars from basically going to far with this practice!
As I have already stated within the message on the Evening Echo website, the memories from the holiday to Malaga in 2000 will always remain with me. Dan and I would get so drunk that he had a tendency for falling over and hurting his ankle whilst I couldn't keep my clothes on in public! At one time we also got locked in a bar by mistake when the owner closed for siesta!
Most of the memories I have of Dan are all alcohol related, not that we were both alcoholics or anything! He was one of my closest friends who I socialised with to the maximum, thats the type of relationship we had and the only way I can relate to him.
Whenever we would go to a nightclub as a large group, it was always Dan that would be first to be removed by the door staff! He would never hurt a fly or cause any conflict, he just liked a bit of crazy dancing and falling all over the place with myself! If we ever did last until closing time then the walk home would be the highlight of the evening. I can remember Dan trying to run on ice in which he obviously ended up on his backside! I also woke up one morning with his mobile phone in my trouser pocket, for some reason he had taken mine home too! At one point in the past we had been to Bakers Bar, Southend-on-Sea and just about managed to stay to the end without being asked to leave. We were going to get a taxi home but for some reason walked all the way home to Canvey Island instead. We were both so proud of ourselves until the next day when our calves had literally ceased up!
Throughout all these memorable drinking sessions we would always have a big slap-up meal to help line our stomachs. Whether it was a fast food outlet or a classy restaurant, Dan would always eat 'burger & chips' and it never changed! You couldn't call him an exciting eater because he was never prepared to experiment! I can remember Dan eating his favourite dish at the Last Post, Southend-on-Sea only a couple of months ago on St Patricks Day. When he went to the toilet I lifted up his sesame seed bun and took a great big bite from his burger before placing it back down! When he returned to the table and went to apply ketchup, he noticed the missing piece. I tried to encourage him to complain to the chef but unfortunately I have never been able to keep a straight face! He took it well though!
Our most recent adventure was a booze cruise to Guernsey on the 3rd May 2007. We tried our hardest to better the old days but seeing as we were no longer in our early twenties the speed and stamina was slightly lacking! I thought it would be a good idea because no one would throw us off a boat! I have only ever known Dan to sing karaoke as a group but this time I actually got him to a sing solo. He was as nervous as anything but did ok as he sang his heart out to 'Footloose!'. The last time I saw Dan was when we dropped him off home after that short vacation on the 5th May 2007. My other friend James was driving and as Dan lifted the boot to remove his luggage I said to James 'move forward a bit!'. As Dan went to pick up his luggage the vehicle jolted forward and his luggage ended up on his feet! He actually laughed more than what we did! Thats the type of guy Dan was, really easy going with a great sense of humour.
Moving away from the drunken nights, I recently took Dan to Arena Essex to watch the banger racing. The cars were going to be towing caravans! With Dan's enthusiasm for motors, I knew that he was going to have a good day. The weather forecast was meant to be hot so I wore shorts whereas Dan stayed in his usual denim jeans. It was actually cold and all I heard from him all day was 'Are you cold, bet you wish you had jeans' or 'I'm a bit hot, how about you!'. He always liked a bit of sarcasm! The races were breath taking with debris flying about all over the place. He loved every minute of it and I'm so glad that I played a part in the final weeks of his life.
I'm going to shut-up now before I end up writing a book about this great bloke. Dan, your funeral was overwhelming and Wayne did you proud with a superb speech. I also got very drunk and had some sambuca's for you! It's not goodbye, it's farewell for now. Rest in peace Dan, I can't wait to have a drink with you again.
Boy racer
One night we were up in a carpark with our cars, i went over to speak to some friends, when Daniel started wheel spinning, hand brake turning, trying reverse doughnuts and all the other tricksin his car, as he drove out, the police drove in, blocked my car in and started giving me the 3rd degree. i wasn't going to grass on my brother now was i thanks Dan,
Pit bike
Daniel had brought a pit bike from e-bay it was a noisy thing looked like a miniature cross bike, anyway one day he took it out on the road, there were a few school kids around, so, Daniel tried to show off by pulling a wheelie but ended up pulling it too far and falling backwards with it.
Kings
Kings night club, our usual saturday night, a friend and i were waiting for Daniel and Palmer by the exit when a group charged in throwing bottles, hitting people with wheel braces, bats and chains, and we were stuck in the middle of this war between the door staff and the other group, it lasted 5- 10muns, we managed to get outside once it calmed down but it took Daniel and Palmer another 20 min to appear, Palmer came out saying Daniel was not happy, so i thought he may have got caught up in the commotion but i didn't see him there, anyway i walk over to Daniel to see if he was ok when he shouted in anger that someone in the que for the coats had stepped back and trood on his foot, well myself and the friend with me just laughed Daniel had no idea what had just happened,
Sandwiches
Often i would make Daniels sandwiches for college only when i was doing my own, for a changed i cut his into childrens party size triangles with no crusts, could you imagine Daniel eating these in front of his fellow machanics!!!
P Plates
When Daniel passed his driving test he was at college and had a certain image to keep up with, boy racer machanic style, the next morning i got up early to go for a jog and put two p plate on his car, Daniel drove to college to show of his car not knowing that he had p plates on it, when his friends were taken to see the car they asked which was his, and Daniel pointed it out, to Dans horror they all noticed the p plates as he did his mates ribbed him all day, who got the blame my Mum,
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