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Hundreds celebrate the life of mum of two killed in car crash

21/12/2005

FATHER-of-two Shane Lees walked on crutches for half an hour in the rain to be at a tribute afternoon in honour of his partner who was killed in a horror road smash.

Mr Lees, who suffered a broken pelvis, arm and internal injuries in the crash, was determined to walk to the event at Crompton Working Men's Club.

He had asked for the afternoon to be a celebration of the life of 31-year-old Katherine Leigh, the mother of their two young sons, who died instantly in the accident in Nottinghamshire on September 11. After walking to the club from his home on Blakelock Street, Shaw, the 37-year-old computer technician chatted with friends and family and thanked everyone for their love and support.

Neighbour Rose Kershaw, who organised the event, said: "He walked all the way to the venue in the rain. For anyone else it would have taken 10 minutes, but walking on crutches it took Shane half an hour.

"He was determined to walk to the club himself and he didn't want fuss when he got there.

"He said 'thank you' to everybody and said Katherine would have been really happy to see so many people there."

The event, attended by 300 people, featured entertainment from singing duo the Duffy Twins, DJ Nigel Whitworth, a disco, quizzes, bingo and an auction.

The afternoon raised £2,400 for anything that Mr Lees and his boys, eight-year-old Sam and four-year-old Thomas, may need following the accident.

Miss Kershaw added: "It was a very moving day but there were also a lot of happy memories shared about Katherine."