A beloved grandfather has died following a tragic incident at a caravan park in Shropshire. David Ratcliffe, 81, sustained severe injuries in the crash at Mile Bank Farm in Whitchurch on Saturday, April 25, and passed away on Monday, May 11.
Mr Ratcliffe, a former pub landlord from Tamworth, has been remembered as a 'lovely man' by his wife of 40 years, Pauline Ratcliffe. The couple had been together for 41 years and married for four decades.
Wife's tribute
Mrs Ratcliffe shared: 'We had been together for 41 years and married for 40 years. In that time, we spent most of our working lives together, as well as our spare time and time with family.'
'Dave was a quiet man, but he loved his caravan and we had been going to the site in Whitchurch for three years. This was meant to be our last year in the caravan ending in October.'
She added: 'We met in Lichfield, and from there we ran a number of pubs together across Staffordshire. After we came out of the pubs, he entered the prison service. We then managed a caravan site together for three years.'
'After we finished running the pubs and site, we became dog sitters, looking after other people's dogs while they went away. We did everything together. Nothing was too much for Dave, he would help anyone who needed it, friends and neighbours. He was a real handyman.'
'He loved his grandchildren and even dressed up as Santa at Christmas when my daughter was a childminder for the kids. Dave was a lovely man, he was a brilliant grandfather, stepfather, and husband, as well as a great friend to those closest to us. We will never forget Dave, and he will be missed by us all.'
Arrests made
West Mercia Police confirmed that a 13-year-old girl and a 48-year-old man were arrested in connection with the crash. Both have since been released on police bail pending further investigations.
