This is how the family of Grantham man Daniel Walsh turned his tragic death into something good
A devoted mum has described her heartache six years on from the tragic death of her son.
Debbie Walsh’s son, Daniel, died aged 30 from serious brain injuries following an altercation in Edinburgh Road, Grantham, in 2013.
He stopped outside a house party on Edinburgh Road, Grantham, as he walked home with his partner and toddler, shortly after midnight one day in July.
At a later trial of two brothers accused of murder, the court heard from the prosecution how Daniel was concerned that the noise from the party would be keeping awake families in the neighbouring houses, and asked for the music to be turned down.
In an altercation that followed, Daniel suffered serious brain injuries and, despite efforts to save his life, he died within hours.
Ben Croft and Sam Croft, formerley of Barrowby, were cleared by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court in March 2014.
Since Daniel’s death, Debbie, who lives on Trent Road, has helped raise a staggering £22,000 for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance by hosting an annual memorial weekend in tribute to her “fun loving” son, as well as other fund-raising events.
She admits that life without Daniel is getting harder as the years go by.
Debbie said: “You learn to live with it but it doesn’t get any easier. It actually gets harder as time goes on.
“It has been especially hard for Daniel’s grandma who was extra close to him.
“I sometimes forget what’s happened for two seconds and go to ring Daniel, and then I remember.”
Debbie has found comfort in the tremendous amount of support she receives when organising the annual memorial weekends, which are usually held around the anniversary of Daniel’s death.
This year’s memorial weekend was held on Saturday, July 27, six years to the day that Daniel passed away, which was particularly poignant for his family and friends.
Despite the rain, the crowds turned up at Harrowby United Football Club on Saturday to see The Longnecks take on The Breathers, as well as enjoying bouncy castles, tombola, raffle and live music from Ireland.
Kayleigh Scothern, Emma Waterstone and Kati Conway raised over £200 by hosting a children’s stall with sweets and glitter. Then on Sunday, a large crowd gathered at the Three Gables pub, in Signal Road, where John Turner raised nearly £1,000 for the ambucopter charity by getting his beard shaved off after two years of growing it.
They were also joined by Marvel characters including Spiderman, The Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man and Black Panther, who kept the youngsters entertained by putting on a free performance.
The memorial weekend is especially poignant for Daniel’s eight-year-old daughter Layla-May, who was just two when her dad died.
Each year, she proudly wears a football kit which is personalised with her dad’s name and photograph.
Debbie added: “Layla-May has so many of Daniel’s ways. She is his double.
“She knows exactly who he is. We will never let his memory die.”
It is because of Layla-May and the support Debbie receives from family and friends that enables the mum to keep going throughout the memorial weekends.
She said: “The event seems to get bigger every year with old and new faces of all ages. It is so nice to see everyone, especially when his friends still come up to me to tell me stories.
“It really boosts me up, although sometimes the smile on my face is hiding the fact that im screaming inside.”
Debbie says she couldn’t do it without the help from others.
She added: “So many people get involved and we receive some incredible prizes from local businesses still, now six years on.”
These include donations from the Spar shop on Bridge End Road, Debbie Rogers at The Boutique, B&M, tickets to Sundown Adventureland and Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, McDonalds, Shades hairdressers, Farmfoods, Woodland Waters and Proctors Window Cleaning. The Priory pub, Blue Pig and The Three Gables pub also donate a voucher for drinks and meals. Asda donates condiments for the barbecue and Morrisons gives a hamper.
“There are also tattoo vouchers from Darren Paddison, Jade Pretty and Danny Wormall.
The gratitude doesn’t end there, though, which goes to show just how loved Daniel was.
Debbie added: “My sister runs the barbecue, my nephew Adam Grant organises the football, Harrowby United Football Club contributes each year and Jane Squires runs the tombola, but there are many more to thank, too many to mention, but they know who they are and I thank each and every one of them from the bottom of my heart.”
Debbie and her friends and family have also taken part in numerous fund-raising events for the charity in Daniel’s memory, including hair shaves, bike rides, skydives and charity darts weekends.
Debbie added: “Daniel would be going mad for all of this. He would absolutely love it and he would have been the first to get involved for someone else.”
Debbie is now keen to hear from anyone who is hosting their own charity event.
She added: “They come to mine so I want to go to theirs, even if it’s just for an hour. I want to show my support as others have done for me.”
Next year’s memorial day will be held on Saturday, July 25 and the family are eager to hear from anyone who has got any ideas or would like to see anything new.
Debbie added: “I am so lucky to have such good family and friends around me. They keep me going and keep me
strong.”
