Utter carnage
Man killed as car hits cottages and somersaults in the air
A MAN has died and a further three were seriously injured following a dramatic road accident in which a car smashed into a row of cottages in Wigginton and somersaulted in the air.
The accident happened at around 1.10am last Thursday morning when a Vauxhall Vectra, entering the village along Chesham Road,
lost control as it approached a speed-calming chicane.
It slammed into a parked car and hit homes (Picture above) making up Hollybush Row before flipping into the air and
colliding with several other stationary vehicles.
A 24-year-old man, who police have refused to name, died at the scene after being thrown from the car.
The man had been travelling with his two brothers, aged 16 and 26 as well as a fourth man aged 22 who all incredibly survived the
accident.
They were taken by ambulance to Hemel Hempstead Hospital where waiting trauma teams treated them for head, neck and chest injuries.
Two of the men discharged themselves from hospital this week.
Mystery surrounds the exact circumstances of the crash and police have been questioning the three survivors as well as witnesses as part of their investigation.
All four men, who are believed to be from a travelling community in Chesham, were thrown from the car – one man with such force that his body destroyed the porch of a cottage.
Eye witness David Asgeirsson, who contacted emergency services, described the impact as ‘like an earthquake’ and said the scene was utter carnage.
“The whole building shook,” he said.
“It was like an earthquake with a huge bang.
“One guy flew out of the car and his head came through my porch.
“Another was in the middle of the road and you could tell straight away he was dead.
“It was like a horror film.”
Tributes to the dead man, whose first name is Mark, began appearing at the site of the accident this week.
One note read: ‘Two smiling eyes are sleeping, a heart of gold at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best. Eternal love and forever yours.’
Besides the Vectra another five cars – a Toyota Yaris, a Vauxhall Astra, a Ford Focus, a Ford Fiesta and a Peugeot 206 were damaged.
Emergency builders were called to the scene soon after the accident to deal with the damage to the homes and take down porches and walls which were destroyed in the accident.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of pounds in damage to cars and homes was done.
“It was like something out of a film,” said one of the builders.
“It was like a bomb had gone off – there was smoke coming out of the cars,” he added.
Another resident, Graham Pile, who lives just beyond the row of cottages, said he was shocked at the scale of what confronted him.
“There were six ambulances, two fire engines and loads of police cars – it was like a war zone for six hours,” Mr Pile said.
Ambulance spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “On arrival our crews were
confronted with a difficult incident and they all worked extremely hard to treat and stabilise the patients at the scene .
“I would like to thank the off duty nurse who was giving first aid to the casualties prior to our arrival.
“Our thoughts are with
the family at this tragic time.”
Herts Police are urging potential witnesses to contact PC Tim Hill on 01923 472388.

Don’t miss out on fiesta fun
TRING traders are getting ready to go back in time for their annual Victorian Fiesta on Friday.
There is a buzz around the town as organisers ensure everything is ready for the celebrations and townsfolk prepare their Victorian outfits for the event.
Street entertainers, fire-eaters, jugglers and clowns will keep the whole family entertained during the evening and some of the town’s shops will be open late.
This will be the 14th Tring Victorian Fiesta and crowds of more than 15,000 people are expected. During the evening, new High Street hairdressers, Diffusion will be holding a launch party, where men and women will be able to change their look with coloured hair extensions. Other entertainment will include Claddagh Irish dancing, a children’s magic show, Morris, clog and sword dancers and the popular Victorian steam carousel will be in the Church Square.
The fun starts at 6.30pm and free parking is available in the Market Car Park.

End of a ‘Grace-ious’ era in Tring
by Victoria West
victoria.west@ccnltd.com
THE FACE of Tring’s oldest family business is set to change forever as Gilbert Grace gears up to sell the hardware shops of G Grace and Son established in the town more than 250 years ago.
Mr Grace, pictured outside the shop, is looking for a buyer to take on the two High Street shops, which have been trading in the same location since 1890. He says he now wants to concentrate on other parts of the company.
Mr Grace said: “I have been helping out in the family business since I was 13. I’m 70 next year and I can’t go on and on.
“I’m not closing G Grace and Son, that will go on and that is very important to me.”
Mr Grace and his wife Julie have two children, Stephen and Caroline, who both have their own careers. Caroline is a nanny working in London and Stephen runs Arrow Valves from offices above the family shops. He won Business of the Year at the Dacorum Business Awards for his company’s anti-pollution and water saving devices.
Mr Grace said: “He wants to do his own thing. He doesn’t want to sit in his father’s or grandfather’s shadow.”
The classic cars and Jaguar business run from workshops at the back of the High Street shops in Parsonage Place will continue under the ownership of Mr Grace. Mr Grace said: “Classic cars are my speciality, so I’m very much into the car world.
“If anyone wants to take on the shop, running it day to day, now is the time for me to concentrate on other things.”
As well as focusing on the car business Mr Grace will oversee the building of a new workshop to replace the family’s old blacksmith’s, which was destroyed in a blaze in 1994. Much of the forge work that still exists in Tring was manufactured here. Tring Church clock face was also cast there. The new workshop will be used by Arrow Valves. A 16th century listed tithe barn, also damaged in the fire, will be restored.
Mr Grace, a keen hockey player, is still fully dedicated to the business, which was established in 1750. Working six days a week he has become one of the best known businessmen in Tring.

Chemical alert as van crashes
EMERGENCY crews raced to the A41 in Tring on Saturday evening after a van carrying containers of oxygen and potentially explosive oxyacetylene overturned.
They were called to the Tring East junction of the westbound A41 bypass.
One container was found to be leaking, so police closed both carriageways of the A41 so that the area could be made safe.
Judge jails man for child porn downloads
TRING man Peter Lightowler was jailed for four months last week for downloading child pornography.
Lightowler, a 48-year-old married man, was caught during Operation Ore after his credit card was used to access indecent images.
When police went to his home on October 21 last year Lightowler was very co-operative, said Natalie Carter, prosecuting at St Albans crown court. He took them to his computer and showed them CDs that contained the images.
In all 3,083 images of children were found. 2,522 were at Level 1, 161 at Level 2, 312 at Level 3, 73 at Level 4 and 15 at Level 5.
Level 4 and 5 are the most serious.
Lightowler, a self-employed builder of Highfield Road, Tring appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty at West Herts Magistrates Court to 14 counts of making indecent photographs and two of possessing indecent photographs.
Defence barrister Richard Wood said there was no suggestion Lightowler had shown the images to anyone else and that he had admitted the offence as soon as the police arrived.
He said he had started off looking at lawful sites and had received unsolicited emails leading him to the unlawful sites.
Mr Wood said that for the past 11 months Lightowler had been receiving twice weekly treatment from a psychotherapist to rehabilitate himself.
He said: “He has taken steps and is deeply ashamed.”
Jailing him Judge Marie Catterson said the offences were too serious for anything other than a custodial sentence.
She ordered that Lightowler be placed on a licence for three years so that he can be monitored on his release from prison.
He was disqualified from working with children and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Blood tests help diagnose pet’s sensitivity to animal foods

No dogs dinner for allergic Ebbie

A TRING family’s precious pet dog was saved from a life of illness and eventual death by their quick thinking vet.
Retired couple Tony and Barbara Bridger, of Hawkwell Drive, feared the worse when their dog Ebbie became ill.
Their vet from Springwell Veterinary Surgery in Tring thought the latest allergy testing could reveal the root cause of seven-year-old Ebbie’s worrying symptoms - passing blood and mucus, not eating and feeling generally unwell.
Barbara said: “The problem started about three years ago. It came on so gradually. She started having little bouts and we naturally thought it was something she could have eaten, but we couldn’t pin anything down.
“The bouts got worse each time it happened. We were starting to think it could be something terrible like cancer.”
A blood test sent to Yorktest Veterinary Services - the first commercial company to embark on serological food allergy testing, revealed that Ebbie is allergic to a whole host of foods.
In fact the tests showed the Border Terrier Cross is allergic to many of the staple foods in a dog’s diet. Beef, lamb, turkey, wheat, soybean, rice, cow’s milk and white fish have all been wiped from Ebbie’s dinner-time menu.
Barbara said: “Now she is on ried food we buy from vets. It is a tapioca based food, which doesn’t upset her at all. She is also allowed chicken and potato.
She can’t have any treats, so now I cut potato into thick strips and dry them out in the microwave so they are hard and give those to her as a treat.”
Now the couple say it seems like they have a completely different dog. Ebbie is lively, healthy and doesn’t have to be coaxed to eat her food.
The turn around has been such a success that Ebbie was featured in K9 Magazine.
Food intolerance and allergies in pets have become increasingly common and Yorktest Veterinary Services has carried out thousands of tests over recent years.
The change in Ebbie's’s diet has been an easy transition for the whole family too and when Ebbie joins Barbara and Tony on trips to see family and friends her food can be easily taken with them.
Barbara said: “She is like a different dog, it’s a miracle.
“It has been great for us. If someone else is having problems with their dog I would say, get it investigated like we did with a blood test.”

Developer plans to work with community
A TURNaround by developers planning to build flats in Tring has been hailed a triumph for the town.
Controversial car parking arrangements for flats in Brook Street inspired local residents from Shugars Green to band together in objection.
The new flats proposed for the old Maund and Irvine site had residents access car parking through Shugars Green, which residents argued would cause extra traffic and could result in a school child being knocked down.
Despite being granted planning permission for the flats, Firstmove Developments decided to change their plans to include an underground car park and children’s playground.
Managing director from Firstmove Developments Michael Hancock said: “We are waiting for a decision on the application. It costs a lot more but I think it will be helpful to both sides.”
The changes will cost the developers £1 million extra in building costs, so an additional six flats have been added to proposals to help cover costs.
During a Tring Town Council meeting on Monday, November 14, Cllr Nick Hollinghurst said: “This is a triumph for Tring. It seems the developers have taken to heart what has been said.”
Cllr John Allan said: “I think it is very nice to see that people have been listened to.”

Rotary’s musical day
A MUSICAL afternoon for senior citizens is being put on by the Tring and District Rotary Club. The Hemel Hempstead Band and Flash Dance will provide a programme of seasonal music in the Desborough Hall at Tring School.
A raffle and refreshments will be on offer during The Senior Citizens' Band Concert on Sunday, December 4. Tickets are free and the concert will run from 2.30pm to 5pm. For information on transport please contact Penny Hearn on 01442 824949.

Advice centre is a hit in school
A NEW modern advice centre, where students can voice their problems and get support on education, social and personal issues has been opened at Tring School.
The Connexions Centre is a safe space where students can meet with trained personal advisors and use computers to access advice websites. It is part of Connexions Hertfordshire, a government support service for young people, which sends advisors into schools and has centres across the borough.
The new centre at Tring School has three private interview rooms and a group area where pupils can pick up advice leaflets and chat openly about problems.
Assistant head teacher Andrew Dobberson said: “We have always had personal advisors, but we felt we would like a safe area in the school where children would know a personal advisor would be there.”
As well as career and education advice the centre gives guidance and support on a whole host of topics, including giving up smoking, sexually transmitted infections and bullying.
Mr Dobberson, who is the centre’s co-ordinator, said: “It is for any subject that young people feel they need help, support or advice on. The students think it is marvellous.
“They love having access to material they can take away with them.”
The new centre has been opened in the school’s old library, which became vacant when a new Learning Centre opened in October.
The centre was officially opened on Friday, November 11 where three Tring School students, 17-year-old Mischke Weinreb, 12-year-old Stephen Dutch and 15-year-old Jodie Seymour gave speeches on how Connexions has helped them.

Inmates wanted for ‘Porridge’ at court
THE FIRST ever stage version of the popular TV sitcom Porridge will make its debut at the Court Theatre in Tring
Ian Gower from Tring and Paul Carpenter from Leighton Buzzard are working with the original script writers from the TV series to come up with the stage version.
Local actors are being called on to take part in December auditions for the show, which will be stage next year. Ian said: “We need local actors that can give a faithful interpretation of the original, they need to be able to mimic as best as possible the characters from the TV series in voice, look and mannerisms.”
This is the latest popular TV series that Ian has adapted for the stage. He has already written and staged at the Court Theatre, Dad’s Army, which has just been published and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
Ian said: “The writers of Porridge have been very supportive of the whole project. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“The person that plays Fletcher will be the first person, other than Ronnie Barker, to play that role. People also forget that David Jason was in Porridge. They are massive acts to follow. The cast is going to have to be dedicated to the cause to make it work."
The first show of Porridge will be at the Court Theatre in June next year. Ian will be inviting creators of Porridge, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to the first show.
Auditions are being held from 3pm on Sunday, December 4 at the Aston Clinton Guide Hall, Aston Clinton.
There will be lots of opportunities for support roles too, as inmates, wardens and visitors. For more information about the audition call producers Ian Gower or Cheryl Muirhead on 01296 630827.

Noah limit - musical floats into cyberspace
A HOME-GROWN Tring musical has been so successful that it will be performed in theatres across the country.
Noah The Musical, written by local men Ian Gower and Rob Alderton, is set to grace stages across the country next year and one day could become a West End show.
In a bid to generate national interest in the musical, Ian and Rob have launched an internet competition to give away six royalty free productions of the show.
Noah The Musical was a huge hit in Tring earlier this year, when it was staged at the Court Theatre. A special fundraising show raised £2,500 for the Iain Rennie Hospice At Home.
Ian and Rob hope nationwide performances of their show will generate interest from major producers.
Ian said: “If we start getting it staged around the country, hopefully the bigger guys will come to us. We want to start a bit of Noah mania.
“We are confident next year it will be performed across the country. It is like testing it. In the beginning I will go to every show to see how it is approached by different directors and casts.”
To find out how you can win a royalty free production of Noah The Musical visit www.amdram.co.uk

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