' Thursday, June 30th, 2005


Noi 6,205^^^'


Last days at school


arm in , By Faiza Afzaal


A FARM mechanic from Waddington lost his right arm in a horrific accident the day after being banned for drink-driving. Self-employed agricultural engineer, Darren


Hopcraft (27), of Queensway, is recovering at the Royal Preston Hospital after the lower part of his right arm was tom off by a forage harvester at New Laithe Farm, near Bolton-by-Bowland.; The incident happened at, 7-37 p.mi on Thurs­


day as Mr Hopcrit attempted to clear blocked grass from the machine, which picks up mown grass, chops it and blows it into a waiting trailer. A police spokesman said: “It is believed that


the machine blocked up and Darren removed a cover plate on the main blower system. It


' appears that he put his arm in the machine before the main blower rotor had stopped revolv­ ing.” Emergency Screws were called to the scene,


including the Lancashire Police Helicopter, which was in the area. It flew Mr Hopcraft to


' hospital while paramedics retrieved his severed arm and packed it in ice. The helicopter returned to collect the arm and take it to hospital, but sur­ geons were unable to reattach it. It is understood the Mr Hopcraft remained


conscious throughout his terrible ordeal. Only the previous day he had appeared before magistrates in Blackburn, where he pleaded


guilty to driving with excess alcohol and was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £300.


■ , , Mr Richard Prew (defending) said his client


had been for a drink after work and subsequent to that had a row with his girlfriend, which led to theni splitting up. ■ “In the early hours of the morning he wanted


some cigarettes and he got in his van and was driving to an all night garage when he was stopped by the police,” said Mr Prew. The court was told the inevitable ban would


) have serious consequences for Mr Hopcraft’s business, which relied on him driving to cus­ tomers all over the Ribble Valley. Mr. Prew said he would have to consider whether his business could afford for him to hire a driver. Mr Hopcraft is the eldest son of Charlie and


. Kath Hopcraft and has two brothers, James and Ian. Earlier this week, brother Ian (24), who works for a steel fabrication business, said: “Dar­ ren is still in a comfortable condition at hospital and we have no idea when he will be home.


.' “All the family is trying to be strong and help­ ing him to get through this.” The Simpson family, who own the farm where


the accidentoccurred, added that they were very upset about what had happened. An investigation has been launched by the . Health and Safety Executive. ,


Pretty in pink to honour brave muni


MORE than £13,000 has been raised in memory of a brave Ribble Valley mother who lost her tight against breast cancer. On Friday, 350 people attended a sell-out pink


ball at the Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn, to hon- our the memory of Whalley mother-of-two Denise Durkin who died last November, aged 39, after a four-year battle with breast cancer. Her untimely death touched hundreds of peo­


ple and her husband, Geoff, and close friends Mrs Ruth Telford, Mrs.Siobhan Trickett and Mrs Gail Bailey planned three charitable events, which have raised a massive amount for Breast Cancer Care and East Lancashire Hospice - where Denise spent the last 12 months of her life as an out-patient. Attractions at the ball included a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses, a disco, and a


. performance by Great Harwood band “Vivid”. . Other money-spinning events included a chari­


ty dance show: “Showstoppers” by the East Lan­ cashire School of Dance. Among the young performers were Denise’s


daughters and Whalley Primary School pupils Lucy (11) and nine-year-old Molly, who show­ cased their skills for charity. On Friday, pupils at Whalley Primary attend­


ed school dressed in the colours, pink, yellow or black to honour the memory of Denise and boost funds for the charities.


• Our picture shows Rotary Club of Clitheroe president Mike Watkins handing over a cheque to Mrs Trickett, Mrs Telford and Mrs Bailey at Friday’s event. (T280605/3h) O More pictures from the ball will appear in the August edition of the Valley.


FAIVIILir NOTICES... PAGES 22,23 ■ AT YOUR SERVICE... PAGES 8,9 ■ VILLAGE NEWS... PAGES 13,14,15


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