Archive - Wednesday, 31 July 2002


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Holiday is ruined by thieves

A LOVING husband's dream to take his disabled wife on their first holiday in 30 years is in tatters after thieves stole their specially adapted van.

Eddy Barker and his wife Jackie, who has multiple sclerosis were looking forward to a week touring the English countryside.

They decided to get their van checked over and a few minor repairs made before they set off.

But the couple were heartbroken this week after being told the van had been stolen from a bodyshop repair compound.

Eddy a grave-digger and landscape gardener decided to take Jackie away on holiday and he booked his first week off work in 30 years.

Anxious that the vital white Ford Transit van should not break down while they were away he took it to Mark Saunders Techni-Colour Bodyshop at Fromeside Industrial Park in Stroud.

But the 13-year-old vehicle was stolen overnight. The compound gates at the bodyshop were forced and as well as Eddy's van an exhaust system and two sun viziers were stolen from a Bedford van.

Losing the van has now left Jackie housebound and the family is shattered. "We are devastated by this. I thought I would take Jackie out and about this week but it has all been ruined," said Mr Barker.

"I don't know how anyone could do this to a disabled woman. It was our home from home." The Barker's bought the van in 1988 and Eddy spent a lot of time and money adapting it.

"We spent thousands adapting the vehicle. It had a ramp, special tracking for the wheelchair, a harness and a CD player. It even had Jackie's tablet boxes in it." Mr Barker said.

He now fears that an insurance payout will not cover the money spent on the cherished vehicle.

*For more see this week's Stroud News & Journal