Funeral of Thai bike crash woman

Lowri Williams, who moved to Thailand to teach English five years ago, was a passenger on her fiancé's motorbike when they were hit by a lorry.

Her father Tony Williams, from Llantrisant, said she had just started a new job at a primary school and was enjoying life.

He said: "Everything was going well for her. That's why it's such a tragedy."

Mr Williams, who had spoken to his daughter two days before her death, said: "She was at a new school, she had just got engaged and she was going to get married.

"She was the happiest she could possibly be."

Mr Williams had visited his daughter at Easter when Arkhom Jamjaksu had asked him for his daughter's hand in marriage.

Miss Williams had been engaged for just five weeks when the crash happened on the evening of 8 May in north Bangkok.

Investigation launched

Mr Jamjaksu, 35, suffered cuts and bruises, and Miss Williams died instantly.

Her funeral took place on Thursday afternoon at Capel Tabernacl, Efail Isaf, in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

An investigation has been launched by Thai police.

Mr Williams has thanked the Thai people for their sympathy and understanding and said he was touched by the response from his daughter's friends and colleagues.

A Buddhist ceremony to commemorate Miss Williams' life was organised by Thunyawit Primary School where Miss Williams had recently started working.

"She had a wonderful life"
Tony Williams

Her father, who attended the ceremony, said: "It was a moving, but very uplifting, service. I was doing it for her friends, but Elizabeth and I got so much out of it ourselves.

"It was done with so much compassion, respect and dignity. It was just a lovely moment," he added.

After graduating from Aberystwyth University with a modern history and politics degree, Miss Williams moved to Thailand in 2002.

She had only started working at the primary school a week before she died. Mr Williams said his daughter, who was fluent in Thai, was "absolutely delighted" about her new job.

He added: "She had a wonderful life."

Miss Williams, who was planning to marry next year, had three siblings, sister Rebekah, 30, brother Dafydd, 26, and step-sister Alexandria, 24.