Browse Sections

• Education
• Roadworks
• Shipman
• Special reports

Loving son dies in tyre shredder

15/11/2001

A MECHANIC who died in a tragic accident involving a tyre shredding machine was 'the most marvellous and generous man you could wish to meet'.

Malcolm France, of Primrose Avenue, Hyde, was fatally injured at Sovereign Rubber, Offerton, Stockport, where he had worked for 24 years.

An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned and the Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident.

Grief-stricken mum Mary France said the 57-year-old was renowned in Hyde for his generosity and regularly donated money to charity.

She said: "He was such a generous man. He did anything for anybody. He gave money to lots of charities like the National Trust and the NSPCC. He was just very kind.

"Everyday I look at the clock and think he is going to come home, but he doesn't.

"It was such a terrible shock. We said good night and went to bed on the Sunday and that was the last time I saw him."

Mrs France, who was widowed in the 1950s after her husband had both legs amputated, is trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

But she is still waiting for management at the tyre company to pass on their condolences and explain how her son was killed at work.

"I want somebody to come round, I don't even know how he died. I just want somebody to tell me what happened."

And the 86-year-old, who is housebound through spinal problems, will now have to leave the home she shared with Malcolm for almost 50 years.

"He was a gentleman. He did everything for me. He stayed in with me every night and did all the cooking.

"Wednesday night was goody night when he would bring me three bars of chocolate. He took me out everywhere. He did everything for me. I don't even know how to put the central heating on. Now I'm going to have to put the house up for sale and move into a home.

"This just shouldn't have happened, he was a very careful man. I just miss him and wish he was here."