A 27-year-old man, who died after his car crashed off the A34 in South Oxfordshire, has been described as a 'shining light' by his devastated family.

Oliver Williams, known as Oli, was a Cambridge graduate who loved theatre and worked for a video game software company.

He had just put in an offer on a house the day before his death in the Friday, October 2 crash.

Thames Valley Police last week in an appeal for information said his grey Volkswagen Polo left the carriageway at approximately 9.30pm.

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It was just after an exit for Abingdon Road near East Ilsley, and the car crashed into a fence.

The section of the A34 was closed all of the following morning. 

A tribute from his family, released by the force today, said: "Oli was a bright, happy, thoughtful, caring, and loving son, brother and grandson, and a shining light for all who knew him.

"He will be remembered for his infectious joy and for his charismatic nature."

It added he gave 'unwavering support' to all his family, friends, his girlfriend and 'hated prejudice of any kind'.

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Mr Williams studied Computer Science at Jesus College, Cambridge University, graduating in 2014.

His family said he led 'such an exciting life, achieving so much' and travelled to Japan after university where he taught English to local school children.

It went on: "He was also a keen mathematician and had a great love for languages, speaking French, Spanish, and Japanese.

"Oli was just 27 and loved his work as a lead software engineer at a video game software company that he was proud to work for.

"His major passions outside of work were acting, music, and theatre. He starred in many theatre performances and musicals, making numerous wonderful friends along the way."

The family added: "He was a young patron of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he would try and watch a play every week.

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"Nothing pleased him more than buying tickets for his parents, brothers, and friends to watch the plays with him.

"Oli was looking forward to his promising future after putting in an offer on a house the day before he died.

"We are a very close-knit family and are all finding it hard to come to terms with our loss, knowing we will never again see our handsome, tall, bright, fun, witty, generous, caring, loving son and brother.

"We miss our bright shining star more than words can ever say."

 

A tribute from his employer said: "Oli will always be remembered as being super friendly, enthusiastic, a true showman, a lover of food and honestly a true joy to be around.

"We've heard much about his love and his talent for singing and the theatre and how he lived opposite Shakespeare's birthplace which was a fact he loved.

"Oli was very much a mascot for the Stratford office and his loss is so deeply felt there already."

Anyone with information about the crash have been asked to contact police by calling 101 or report information online quoting reference 43200310728.