Grandfather drops dead at the wheel of his car... as he arrives to make a donation at hospital to mark his 80th birthday
- Frank Watson had travelled to the Queen's Hospital in Burton-Upon-Trent
- He suffered an abdominal aneurysm and died instantly
Frank Watson (centre) collapsed at the wheel of his car and died
A man died behind the wheel of his car as he arrived to make a donation to a hospital to mark his 80th birthday.
Frank Watson travelled to the Queen's Hospital in Burton-Upon-Trent to leave the cash which was gifted in lieu of presents.
But as he pulled up on November 7, he suffered a ruptured abdominal aneurysm and died instantly.
Mr Watson, who served Alrewas Cricket Club for more than 60 years, was found slumped over the steering wheel.
The 81-year-old, of Wellfield Road, Alrewas, was taken to the accident and emergency department but there was nothing doctors could do.
Mr Watson's son, Stephen, 44, said his father, who underwent a triple heart bypass operation at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, 14 years ago, died on the spot.
He said: ‘We still think he's going to come back.
‘We will certainly miss him.’
Born on October 27, 1931, in Fradley, Staffordshire, Mr Watson was the son of farmers and had two brothers and two sisters.
He left school at 14 and worked on a farm before taking a job on the railways for 37 years.
He was track chargeman responsible for 13 workers at British Rail before he worked for two subsequent firms of contractors, retiring aged 63.
Apart from his wife of 49 years, Vera Elizabeth, known as Betty, 77, the love of Mr Watson's life was sport, including football, hockey, horseracing and, above all, cricket.
He played football for Fradley, hockey for Lichfield and cricket for Alrewas during a 40-year playing career which saw him win the Burton league bowling award four times for his cunning slow-paced deliveries.
Share this article
A life member of the club, Mr Watson also served as captain, groundsman, umpire, chairman and president.
Mr Watson had travelled to the Queen's Hospital in Burton-Upon-Trent (pictured) to make a donation for his 80th birthday
After his cricket playing days ended, Mr Watson umpired in the Burton and Derbyshire County leagues, presiding over fixtures every Saturday and on some Sundays.
Fittingly, his last game was a match in September between Alrewas 2nds and Tutbury involving his other son, Tim, 42.
Mr Watson, who also tended the Royal British Legion bowling green in Alrewas for two decades, left his wife, two sons, daughter Jayne Deverall, 46, and five grandchildren.
Frank Watson left school at 14 and worked on the railways for 37 years as a track chargeman
Most watched News videos
- Moment man jumps from a boat and 'body slams' a orca in New Zealand
- Londoners fall prey to balaclava clad phone robbers on e-bikes
- Neighbour of woman mauled by XL Bully says never saw the dog on estate
- How music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs made himself sound like a victim
- Cabin in disarray as passengers disembark from turbulence-hit flight
- Singapore Airlines passenger reveals terror when turbulence hit jet
- Digging the dancing queen! Queen Silvia dances to Abba in Thailand
- Passengers carried out of flight after emergency landing in Bangkok
- Moment Brit tourist is stabbed in front of his wife in Thailand
- Traveller pulls off the wheels of his case to avoid baggage charges
- Cancelled skate-park party causes huge riot in Florida
- 'It was chaotic': Airport statement after Singapore Airlines horror
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
We are no longer accepting comments on this article.
