A GRIEVING mother has told of her heartache as she reflects on the anniversary of her son’s death.

Today marks one year since David ‘Dewi’ Foulkes, 23, from Mancot, was killed in a car crash on Glynne Way in Hawarden.

Friend and driver Martin Bielicky was jailed for six years for causing his death by dangerous driving while three-times over the drink-drive limit.

Since his untimely death, David’s mother Lynn, 50, has campaigned tirelessly for a zero tolerance approach to drink-driving.

At midnight last night she released doves and Chinese lanterns at her son’s graveside to mark his death.

Here she looks back on her struggle to cope, the beloved grandchildren who keep her going and life without Dewi.

“It’s still very raw,” said Lynn, of Cwrt Onnen.

“I will never have closure. There is no coming back from it and that is the hardest part. I just get up in the morning and breathe and function, but that’s about it. I can’t do anything about what happened. I can’t take it back. I just want to see him.

“If someone catches me on a bad day they just have to deal with it.”

Lynn admits she has difficulty passing the spot in Hawarden where Bielicky’s car crashed into a wall.

She said flowers left at the scene are a constant reminder of the accident.

David, a talented footballer who worked at Deeside pharmaceutical firm Aptuit, has a close network of friends who have helped Lynn to cope.

“They miss David terribly,” she said.

“It has really affected them because they were never apart. They are in touch with me all the time and they always ask if they can come down and see me.

“They often decide they want to do a fundraiser for David and they come and ask me first.

“If I need anything I know they will all be there for me.”

Lynn has two grandchildren who help to keep her going – Harrison, one, to son Mark, 23, and five-month-old Ethan to daughter Hayley, 28.

“They are happy little souls,” she added. “I have to keep focusing on them. They are what is keeping me here.”

Last month, Lynn created a petition calling for the drink-drive limit to be slashed to zero.

The 2,400-signature petition came as ministers were being urged to cut the drink-drive limit by nearly half in a government-commissioned report.

Sir Peter North’s review said reducing the limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg would save hundreds of lives.

Lynn presented her petition to Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami who has vowed to write to the Prime Minister to gauge support.

“I keep myself busy with this sort of thing,” said Lynn.

“Some people disagree with what I’m doing but I’m not bothered about what they think. I just hope people think about it before they get behind the wheel of a car.

“If it saves just one person’s life I will do it.”

A condolence book has been placed at David’s grave at Hawarden Cemetery for visitors to sign.

A FOOTBALL match is set to take place in David’s memory and the proceeds will go to the David Foulkes Memorial Fund set up by Lynn to donate to local children’s charities.

The match is being played on Sunday, August 29 from 2pm at the football pitch opposite The Melrose Inn in Shotton

Refreshments will be served in the Melrose after the game.