Remembering a Creswell ‘hero’

The 24-year-old was tragically killed last Tuesday, when riding his motorbike in Upper Langwith.

A corporal with The Queens Royal Lancers, he was based at Catterick.

People gathered to remember Danny at the Black Diamond pub in Creswell wearing T-shirts bearing his picture.

The group of riders set off on their bikes heading for Scarcliffe - one of the routes Danny liked to ride.

All of the money raised from the sale of the T shirts will be donated to the Lincolnshire and Notts Air Ambulance.

Pete Moody, one of Danny’s best friends, helped to organise the ride.

He said: “Biking was something Danny did when he was home on leave and he loved it.”

“He had a lot of friends and there are many of them here tonight. A lot of them are bikers who he used to go riding with.”

“He was very well-known and well-loved in the village. This is a chance to remember him by doing something he loved doing.”

His brother Brett Crowder paid tribute to his ‘best friend’.

“He was a well-liked lad in the village,” he said.

“He was our hero. He wasn’t just a brother to me - he was my best friend. He loved his bike and loved going out riding on a Tuesday night.”

His girlfriend Cindy Keats said Danny would have been pleased to see how many people had turned out for him.

“He loved his bike and would be buzzing to see all these people here tonight,” she said.

“He would have been out looking at all the other bikes as well, and telling people that his was the best one.”

“He had lots of friends in Stoke, where I’m from, and they would have loved to have been here tonight but couldn’t make it over.”

“There are lots of people that knew and loved him. He always had a lot of time for people.”

“He would do anything for anyone. And if one of his friends needed him, no matter what time of the day or night he would be there.”

Cousin Ritchie Bleackley used to go riding with Danny when he was home from the army on leave.

“His bike was his favourite toy. We used to go out on it a lot. Every Tuesday we would go out to Scarclife,” he said.

“He wouldn’t want people to be upset. He was always up for a laugh.”

“He always took part in an annual ride out for somebody else, and he did that just a couple of weeks ago.”

“We would hope to make this an annual thing and do this every year to remember Danny. He loved his bike, so this is a great way to remember him.”

Cindy and Ritchie thanked all the people who turned out in Danny’s memory.

Ritchie also thanked the people who helped on the evening of the accident, especially a woman who made him comfortable while waiting for help to arrive.

An inquest into Danny’s death was opened and adjourned at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court on Tuesday afternoon.

To support the air ambulance and their vital work, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk