Tragic dad-of-three wins business gong
Date published: 28 September 2009
A poignant tribute was paid to a tragic businessman when his brother collected a top accolade in his memory.
Paul Crowther was killed when his family’s New Year celebration turned to tragedy after a car crash in France.
The father-of-three, from Springhead, was thrown from his Toyota Landcruiser which skidded off an icy country road near to his holiday home.
But in a touching ceremony at Saddleworth Rotary Club, his brother Steve and his wife, Gillian, received a special trophy for the best trade stand at the recent highly-acclaimed Saddleworth Summer Show.
Mr Crowther (43), speaking to members at the Rotary’s headquarters at the White Hart at Lydgate, choked back tears when he accepted the award from the club’s president, Malcolm Hill.
The father-of-two said: “It has been a very difficult time for all our family and I am deeply touched to receive this great honour on Paul’s behalf.
“Paul’s business has won the trophy before but winning it again takes on an extra special meaning this year.
“I would d like to thank everyone who has been so supportive of our families, including villagers and business people, during this tragic time. It really is appreciated.”
Said Mr Hill: “It was a very sad moment but the club wanted to recognise the invaluable support and commitment the Crowther family have given the Summer Show, which is Saddleworth’s flagship fund-raising event, over the years.
“It was very fitting that Steve should receive the trophy on behalf of his brother.”
Paul Crowther’s wife Susan was left with a broken leg, a shattered ankle, a dislocated neck and holes in her head when the 4x4 rolled into a field.
Another member of the family, who scrambled free in freezing darkness to raise the alarm, received broken ribs and abdominal injuries. The family had seen in the New Year at the couple’s recently renovated holiday home close to Châlus.
Steve has taken over Paul’s former business, Ainsworth’s, a DIY and builders merchants in Greenfield. Next year’s Saddleworth Summer Show is on Sunday, June 13, at Churchill playing fields, Greenfield.
