A lasting tribute to tragic Wayne

Waynes family present a cheque to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Calder Valley Search and Rescue organisations, two of the five good causes money raised in his memory is helping. From the left are Jimmy Stansfield, Bob Uttley of CVSR, Shaun Stansfield, Lisa Stansfield, Josie Stansfield, Di Wharmby of YAA, Eileen Stansfield and Dean Stansfield

Wayne Stansfield, 48, of J.T. Stansfield butchers, Todmorden, was hit by two cars as he crossed Halifax Road in March.

Friends and members of the public rushed from the Wellington Inn to lift one of the cars off Mr Stansfield, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Since his tragic and untimely death, residents across the town have rallied together to raise thousands of pounds for charity as a lasting tribute to his life.

In the days following Mr Stansfield’s funeral, a massive £4,000 was collected and divided between the road safety charity Brake and child and adolescent mental health charity YoungMinds.

And as money continued to pour in, another £2,100 was collected and is being donated to three local causes - the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team and the 26th Calder Valley Scouts.

Mr Stansfield’s wife, Lisa, 47, said his family had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.

“I am immensely proud and overwhelmed by all the support shown by the local community,” she said.

“It has just been immense and is a testament to how popular Wayne was. I feel truly blessed to be a part of Todmorden.

“It has been the most horrendous circumstances, to not even get the chance to say goodbye to your husband.

“One minute you’re playing a game of dominoes and the next you’re trying to arrange a funeral and I am so grateful for the support.

“Special thanks to Belle Riley, Bob Follen, Sara Abbott, Morrisons, Todmorden Market traders, Halifax Bank, St Mary’s Church and everybody else that has donated goods and money.

“Wayne would have been chuffed to bits to have been able to have help so many charities as we are.

“It’s a lasting tribute to him.”

But the pain is still raw for Mrs Stansfield and her family and she has warned more needs to be done to tackle driving issues in the town.

She added: “I’m concerned about the lack of care taken on our roads. It’s still carrying on and people are still speeding up and down.

“I’m dismayed, it cost one young boy’s life last year and now it’s Wayne.

“Something really need to be looked at, at how fast these cars go through our town.

“We have three main roads coming through Todmorden and these are the roads that need looking at.

“Cameras seem to be the best deterrent, if it would prevent another death.”