Film-maker killed in Aston Martin crash

A FILM-MAKER who was killed when his Aston Martin went flying through the air and landed in a field had just been nominated for a prestigious award.

Richard Steel, 40, who shot music videos for Scottish bands the Proclaimers and the Fratellis and was a cameraman on ITV's Tonight with Trevor McDonald, was killed when he lost control of his Aston Martin DB9 on the A91 Hillfoots road near Menstrie, Clackmannanshire.

He was killed instantly when his 110,000 car left the road at 10:10am on Wednesday and landed on its bonnet 50 yards away.

One man who saw the accident said: "The car came round the bend absolutely flying and went off the road and through the air into a field."

Mr Steel, who lived in Lasswade, Midlothian, was in the area to film a commercial for drinks giant Diageo's Johnnie Walker whisky brand at its base in Menstrie.

He ran his own production company in Edinburgh, called Independent Production Facilities, and travelled as a football cameraman, covering Scottish games in Europe.

He also filmed the Dalai Lama's visit to Scotland as well as T in the Park and the Super Bowl in the United States.

Mr Steel's brother Gary, 51, revealed the cameraman had just been told he had been nominated for a Bafta award, for a spoof feature film.

He said: "Richard loved his job and travelled the world for it. He's been all over. He'd recently finished a feature film, which he'd made in Edinburgh, and had been nominated for a Bafta for the first time. He was happy about that.

"He was one of the top in his field, and he was very well respected in the business."

Gary said his brother's girlfriend of ten years, Dawn, 34, had been devastated by the tragedy.

"She's just too upset to speak just now," he said. "It's difficult for her. We're all devastated about this.

"He was fun-loving, everyone's friend and well-travelled. He was a great guy. We got on fantastically and I'd class him as my best friend.

"I was totally devastated when I got the call to say he was dead. I couldn't believe it.

"He liked his home life. He travelled so much that he liked spending time with his family and being out in the garden when he was actually home."

He said his brother had loved driving Aston Martins. He said: "He just loved cars and particularly loved Aston Martins. This was his second one."

Gary said there were no plans for his brother's funeral, as a post-mortem examination was yet to take place.The fatal accident was the second crash Mr Steel had been in involving an Aston Martin. He wrote off his DB7 Vantage GT in September 2008.

At the time, he wrote on his website: "I thought it was time to re-style the front end of my beloved Aston Martin DB7 Vantage GT, of which there were only 112, now 111.

"Unfortunately, it didn't work out all that well and the 10ft stone wall that I tried to use (at 70 mph) is much better off than the car … bugger.

"I'm fine and dandy AND still have all 13 fingers and 13 toes but she will be sadly missed … RIP my beloved."

In his CV, he described himself as "Scotland's best kept secret" and said he took "pride in my work, reputation and achievements". He also said he enjoyed tennis, long walks with his dogs, photography, gardening, wine-making and the cinema.

Central Scotland Police confirmed the crash had involved Mr Steel's car alone, and asked anyone with information to contact them on 01786 456370.