MEMORIES of a loving husband and doting dad will live on through his baby daughter.

Simon Jones died in a head-on car crash leaving behind his devoted wife Sally and their 19-month-old daughter Ellie.

As she struggled to come to terms with the tragedy Sally said she would never let her daughter forget the "most lovely man" that was her father.

Wiping tears from her cheeks, Sally talked about their plans to take Ellie to the seaside and how their baby still was not old enough to understand that her daddy was not coming home.

She added: "He could not have loved Ellie and me any more. He worked hard and he was always looking forward to getting home to see us.

"He was a loving husband and daddy.

"We had had a normal and nice weekend before. We had been down the park and Simon was playing play-dough with Ellie in the afternoon. Then on the Monday it all happened."

Holding a picture of the three of them together, she described the disbelief when police broke the news.

"At first it was too much to take in. It's still hard to imagine it's happened, the first few days seemed like a dream, but it feels harder everyday."

"We had so many plans, simple things like taking Ellie to the seaside in the summer.

"We were both really excited about her getting a little bit older, and doing so many things with her.

"Ellie still points out his side of the bed and brings me his shoes.

"She is not really old enough to understand what has happened, but when she is older, I will be showing her lots of photographs.

"My memories of him will live on in Ellie. I miss him so much."

Simon, who was 28 and lived at Ascott Close, Priory Vale, North Swindon died when his red Fiat Punto collided with a Volkswagen on the A420, near Buckland on Monday, January 17.

He was on his way to work at the BMW factory in Cowley, near Oxford.

Parents June and David Jones, who live in Savill Crescent, Wroughton said they were devastated.

Mr Jones, 47, said: "He was a good lad. He could be quite cheeky but he was always enthusiastic, and totally dedicated to Sally and Ellie.

"We could not have asked for better son, always thoughtful, very patient. All the children adored him, he always had time for everybody else."

His mum, Jane, 46 said: "He was a special person, one of the best.

He was close to his dad and devoted and dedicated to Sally and Ellie. He brought joy and pride into our lives."

Before moving with Sally, Simon lived at his parent's home in Wroughton.

He attended Ridgeway School and when an apprenticeship came up at the Swin-don Pressings he jumped at the chance and later got a job at BMW's Cowley plant.

Simon and Sally met when they were both 20, and in July 2002 they got married at Lydiard Millicent and lived in Peatmoor before moving to Ascott Close.

Sally added: "I have had an amazing amount of support from friends, family and neighbours. I just want to thank them."

Simon's funeral is on Monday at the crematorium in Swin-don. The family welcomes flowers and donations will be put into a trust fund for Ellie.

Anthony Osborne