Charity fundraiser killed in Hullavington crash (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Charity fundraiser killed in Hullavington crash

2:27pm Monday 10th November 2008 in Search By Joe Ware

Charity fundraiser Mary Howard, whose Christmas sales helped dozens of good causes, died in a three car crash near Hullavington on Sunday.

Mrs Howard is well known for her Christmas fairs at Hullavington, which have raised more than £1 million for more than 50 charities, including Dorothy House Hospice, Naomi House Children's Hospice and Youth Action Wiltshire.

Emergency services were called to the accident at 1.54pm on the A429 near the junction for Hanger Farm.

Mrs Howard is thought by police to have pulled out from Wellington Place when her blue Volkswagen Golf was struck by a silver Vauxhall Vectra travelling north.

A police spokesman said the impact knocked her car into the opposite lane where it was struck by a red Seat Leon.

Fire crews from Chippenham and Malmesbury cut open the roof so she could be removed without further injury.

She was taken out on a longboard in case of spinal injuries before being flown to Swindon’s Great Western Hospital by Wiltshire Air Ambulance. However on arrival her condition deteriorated and she died of her injuries.

The drivers of the other two cars were treated for whiplash and taken by road ambulance to Great Western Hospital.

Mrs Howard, of Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, started the Mary Howard Christmas Fairs 20 years ago with a small selection of stalls selling presents for Christmas in her home, in aid of the NSPCC, her favourite charity, which she has supported ever since.

Dame Mary Marsh, NSPCC director and chief executive said "Mary Howard's support for the NSPCC and the children we seek to help has been an inspiration over the last 25 years. "Her commitment, enthusiasm and energy, ably backed up by her husband Paddy, have not only resulted in funds to support the Society's work but her sales have also helped to raise awareness of the scale of child abuse."

The sales proved such a success they grew too large for her house. She and her husband Patrick then moved the sales to one of the aircraft hangars just off the M4 at Hullavington near Chippenham, which at that time belonged to the Royal Air Force, and was taken over by the Royal Logistic Corps, both of whom have helped in raising money for the various charities.

As well as Hullavington, the Christmas fairs are now held at two other venues: Sandown Park and York race course.

She is believed to have been at the hanger yesterday putting the finishing touches to this year's sale, which begins tomorrow and runs until Friday.

Stallholders at the sale were shocked to learn of Mrs Howard's death when they arrived to make final preparations this morning.

One stallholder from Wootton Bassett, who has known Mrs Howard for 15 years, said: "She was a fantastic woman. It's hard to believe she has died. The atmosphere this morning was very muted but everyone is determined to carry on in Mary's memory and make this the best sale ever."

Katrina Sudbury of Dorothy House Hospice said Mary Howard's death would be a great loss.

She said: "I am deeply saddened by the news, Mary had so much energy and vitality. "She has raised a phenomenal sum of money, over a million pounds for different charities.

"She had a real gift of highlighting the needs of different charities and was a wonderful woman. It is a great loss for charities across the country."

She added that Mrs Howard had been a close friend to Dorothy House.

She said: "Mary was such a supporter of our work that she allowed us to benefit from the Christmas Sales two years instead of the usual one.

"She was always up at the Hullavington sales making everyone feel comfortable and was asking if people needed any help.

"She was so enthusiastic and did her utmost to make it a success."

Mrs Sudbury added: "Thanks to Mary we were able to raise £10,000 from the two Christmas stalls we had at Hullavington. "She was a charming and generous person."

You can leave your tributes to Mrs Howard below