Fond tributes to Bramley pensioner Alan Jeffs and his dog Maddie

Kirk* wrote the tribute in memory of Alan Jeffs (76) and his terrier Maddie, who both died after the collision on Bawtry Road, Bramley, just before Christmas.

Family and friends said their final goodbyes to Alan, who lived in Rotherham his whole life, at his funeral last week.

Nephew Kirk (47), who told the Advertiser he had fond memories of his uncle, had his poem, called Alan and Maddie (If Only), read out at the service.

The poem includes the verses: “If only you wasnt at that place, in the darkness and the rain.

“Why was the timing so precise, where there is nothing to gain.

“To sever life so innocent, and inflict so much pain.

“It hurts so much to even think, we wont see you both again.”

Alan (pictured, above) and Maddie were struck by a Mercedes SLK while crossing Bawtry Road at about 5.40pm on December 12.

They had been heading home after visiting two of Alan's friends.

South Yorkshire Police said the driver of the Mercedes had stopped at the scene and was helping with its investigation.

Kirk said he had fond memories of his uncle visiting him and his mother, Sheila, when they lived in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

“If you ever wanted anything, you could go to him,” he said.

“There will always be a void, a large gap, not only in our hearts, but our very souls, and no matter how much we try, it simply cannot be repaired.”

Alan's dog, Maddie

Sheila Jeffs (69), Alan’s sister, said his death had been shocking for the whole family. Alan was born in 1943, as one of eight siblings, and grew up in Maltby.

He attended Maltby Infant School and later Maltby Secondary Modern.

His older brother Brian was a refuse collector and he followed in his footsteps, working on the dustbins for several years.

Alan later worked for wire manufacturer Tinsley Wire until he suffered a leg injury in a car accident.

His injury, which he suffered when a car drove into the back of him, meant he had to take early retirement.

Alan lived for many years in Bramley, on Howard Road and then on Bentley Road.

He had three children  Paul, who emigrated to Australia and is in his early 50s  Karen (49) and Tina (48), as well as four surviving siblings and several grandchildren.

Sheila said the family had always been very close and her brother had always been there for them.

“He loved his dog — that dog went everywhere with him,” she said.

It was another family tragedy for Sheila, who lost her daughter Mandy Rogers (33) in 2002 after she had been missing in Oxfordshire for around nine weeks.

Alan’s dad, Harry Jeffs, died in 1951, when his son was just seven, after falling off a ladder while cleaning windows.

*Kirk changed his name by deed poll to just Kirk, with no surname.