'Freak of timing' blamed for death of fundraiser

Mr Blashill, who was affectionately known as the "Welwick Relic", died after being hit by a car, which lost control after hitting the door of a parked vehicle in the village on March 12.

The 82-year-old farmer, who was known for his charity work and the annual Welwick Heritage Weekend, suffered multiple head injuries and died in hospital. An inquest in Hull heard that Mr Blashill and his wife Mary had just stopped their Land Rover Freelander outside a friend's home in the village, when the accident happened.

Mr Blashill had got out of the car and was standing in the roadway as a Fiat people carrier driven by Andrew Ogden, 38, approached.

Mr Blashill's Freelander was parked in front of a Toyota in which Lillian Rutland was sitting. Mrs Rutland opened the door, which was hit by the Fiat, which then swerved crushing Mr Blashill against his own vehicle.

Collision investigator Alfred Place concluded: "She opened the door sufficiently wide enough to contact Mr Ogden's Fiat.

"The resulting damage to the steering system caused a sudden but temporary loss of control and the vehicle swerved to the nearside to impact with Mr Blashill, crushing him on the offside of the vehicle.

"It is clear Mrs Rutland did not see the vehicle approach and opening the door set off a chain of events that led to a most undesirable outcome."

Mr Ogden told police in interview that he was doing no more than 25mph in the 30mph zone. He described the accident as a "freak of timing", adding: "He (Bernard) saw me coming and went close to his car to let me pass. I hit this bank, the vehicle completely changed direction and careered into the side of the Freelander...then unfortunately it hit Mr Blashill and he ended up 20ft down the road."

Mrs Rutland couldn't remember much about the accident – apart from opening the door "gingerly" and "a little bit" then hearing an "almighty bang." She insisted the door wasn't open by any more than 1ft, and claimed Mr Ogden was coming "very fast". Witness Eric Billany, who was looking out of a nearby living room window at the time, said Mr Ogden was doing "about 50" and "just kept going" after hitting Mrs Rutland's door.

Mr Place said Mr Ogden's recollection of leaving an appropriate distance between his vehicle and Mrs Rutland's car was corroborated by physical evidence.

Mr Blashill, who was born in Hilston and attended Withernsea School, moved to Welwick when he was 16 and his father bought Moat Farm.

For two decades Mr Blashill and his wife, Mary, hosted the heritage weekend in October, which included an auction of vintage machinery, music, refreshments and a vast array of farming's past. His funeral on March 24 was attended by over 600 people. He was parish councillor for nearly 50 years.

Mrs Blashill didn't attend the inquest, but in a statement paid tribute to her husband of nearly 60 years, saying she had received over 300 cards and letters from people who knew him, some from as far away as Australia.

She concluded simply: "He was a popular figure in the community and well-liked by all who knew him."

Coroner Geoffrey Saul recorded an accident verdict.