Tributes have been paid following the death of a former St Albans School pupil and Tottenham Hotspur supporter, who sadly died in a road traffic collision in Elstree.

The family of 27-year-old Joe Paul, who died on Tuesday, June 10, have shared memories of the adventurous and sporty young man.

Employed by Transport for London as an engineer, Joe had been working towards becoming a chartered engineer and was due to qualify in autumn.

But he died at the scene of the collision which took place between a red Honda motorcyle that he was driving and a black Mercedes SLK, driven by a woman in her late 20s from Radlett, close to North Medburn Farm on Watling Street in Elstree at about 6.50pm, June 10.

Firefighers were called to the scene as the vehicles caught alight following the collision, and a 33-year-old man from Watford was hospitalised after pulling both Joe and the driver of the car away from the burning vehicles.

Joe and his family had moved to St Albans when he was 16 months old.

He attended St Michael’s Primary School before completing his secondary education at St Albans School.

After leaving school, Joe took a gap year where he went travelling in the Far East, visiting places including Thailand and Australia where he went diving.

Joe’s mum, Lynne, said: “Joe had an interest in everything and travel in particular.”

His dad, Aidan, added that Joe and his younger brother David, both keen skiers, took regular trips abroad, including to Chile and Valmorel in France.

Aidan said: “One summer, Joe and I also visited and successfully climbed Mont Pelvoux.”

While at Leeds University, Joe was recognised on the Faculty of Engineering’s Dean’s List, a prestigious award that recognises academic excellence and is given to only the top five per cent of students.

Despite moving to London at the age of 24, Joe travelled to St Albans up to three times a week, where he would catch up with his family over a meal.

His family said that Joe had many good friends, the majority of whom have links to St Albans, and he was living in an apartment with a group of friends he had made from school.

Joe’s parents said he had a great sense of humour, adding: “He was a real live wire and someone who had a real lust for life. He was exuberant in everything he did. We’ve all got so many fantastic memories of him.”