Family tribute to ‘perfect man’

NIGEL Lindley and wife, Gail (third right), on their wedding day with their family

A GRIEVING family has paid tribute to a hard-working man crushed in a horrific accident just weeks before Christmas.

Nigel Lindley (47), of Bourne Road, Shaw, was seriously injured when a metal sheet fell on him at Renold Gears, Milnrow, on November 27.

Workmates battled to free him before paramedics arrived but he died at Hope Hospital the following day.

His wife, Gail (44), said they are all still shocked and stunned by his death.

She said: “It’s going to be a quiet Christmas this year.

“We usually have all the family round, a big tree and lots of food.

“The tradition was everyone come round for lunch and then Nigel would drop people off home by 4pm so he could relax and have a drink.

“It was his time to relax because he worked so hard, he would have been working on Christmas Eve.

“We would have been going to get a tree this week, but I don’t think I’ll be having a tree this year.”

Mrs Lindley had been friends with Nigel since she was six-years-old, and they became a couple 10 years ago.

They married in October last year and have five children.

Mr Lindley worked at Tight Lines angling centre, Shaw, for four months before joining Renold Gears 18 months ago.

He was a passionate angler and was a member of Twingate and Diggle angling clubs, as well as Shaw Road Demolition Squad.

She said: “He was hardworking and was very much a family man, sometimes working seven days a week and overtime.

“He was very traditional and liked to have his tea on the table when he came home from work.

“His grandson Ethan loved him, they used to both sit on a chair and watch Tom and Jerry cartoons together.”

Around 100 people attended Mr Lindley’s funeral service at Hollinwood Crematorium on Friday.

Mrs Lindley said: “I picked two Elvis Presley songs, ‘I Believe’ and ‘I Can Dream’, which was one of his favourites.

“When I was picking the music for his service I could hear his voice in my head.

“It is comforting that I have lots of nice memories of him, but we are all still coming to terms with it.

“I keep forgetting that he has gone, I still go to make him a brew.”

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive has been launched into Mr Lindley’s death.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on December 5 but the family have been told they may not know the outcome until October next year.

Mrs Lindley said she is thankful that she has the support of all her family, including her sister, who is married to Mr Lindley’s brother, who travelled over from their home in Australia.

She said: “I understand what people mean when they talk about soul mates. Nigel is the only man I could ever see myself growing old with.

“We enjoyed each others company and had a lot of the same interests, we finished each others sentences and reacted in the same way.

“He was the perfect man for me.

“I don’t know what next year will bring, we are just taking one day at a time,

“Ethan still asks about his granddad. He was very upset at the time, but know he knows his granddad is a star in the sky.”