17/09/2026
Working daily with people whose lives have been irrevocably altered following road traffic accidents is something that the founders of STEPS Rehabilitation, Jules,Toria and Ray have personal experience of.
On the 16th October 1992, Alexander Boulger tragically died, along with a friend, in a minibus accident whilst travelling with his university rugby team to a match in Bath. Alex was the brother of Jules, Toria, Edward and the son of Ray and Lana Boulger. He was just 19 years old, and as a 2nd year dental student at Guys Hospital, London, had his whole adult life ahead of him.
The ripple effects following such a tragedy extend beyond the immediate family, it impacts those who survived the crash, the emergency teams who attended the scene, and friends – and in this instance, fellow students and housemates.
In 1992 people didn’t really talk about the grieving process or recognise the impact that such a traumatic event can have on you, particularly on young people. Professional support didn’t exist in the same way as it does now, and people tended to navigate thoughts and emotions on their own.
That's why, when a group of Alex's student friends got in touch with Jules and Toria and came to Sheffield for a visit, it was a chance to reflect on that period of their lives and - through a maturer lens - acknowledge the emotional burden everyone had carried.
It was also a chance to celebrate Alex's life - sharing funny stories and reminiscing on those heady student years which, as anyone who has experienced university life will know, have the quality of a protected bubble of time.
The afternoon and evening that everyone spent together was incredibly special, and a reminder that life is short, so make the most of every moment.
A big thank you to all of Alex’s friends who came to visit STEPS Rehabilitation and share their wonderful memories of Alex.
