Devoted dad mourned
0:00am Fri Mar 27, 2009
Mr Richard Chaddock with his son, Colby.
A family man who was looking forward to the birth of his second son has died after an incident on a construction site in London.
Mr Richard Chaddock (30) of Milton Street, Balderton, was working for a sub-contractor on a 12-storey office building in Swan Lane when he was fatally injured.
An investigation is being carried out by the police and Health and Safety Executive. No further details have been released.
An inquest into his death was opened at the City of London Coroners Court on Wednesday and adjourned.
A funeral service will be held at St Giles’ Church, Balderton, on Thursday. Mr Chaddock was married in the same church and his son, Colby, was christened there.
His widow, Mrs Kate Chaddock (29) said she and her husband were childhood sweet- hearts. They met at the Grove School, Balderton, where Richard was a year above her and they married nine years ago.
At school her husband was known as Richard Gorman but later changed his name to ensure his maternal grandparents’ surname continued.
Mr Chaddock was an experienced welder, well thought of in the trade.
He worked for Hutchinsons Engineering of Sutton-on-Trent for about five years but his hours had been cut because of the recession and he had accepted an offer of work in London, travelling to and from the capital each day.
Mrs Chaddock said she was told she may not be able to have children so when Colby was born, on April 7, 2007, they were thrilled.
That joy was repeated when Mrs Chaddock discovered she was pregnant again.
The couple’s second son is due on June 10. They had already chosen a name for him — Jake.
“This was a very happy time for us,” said Mrs Chaddock. “I have some very happy memories.”
She said her husband was an active person who was very kind and would do anything for anyone. He was a devoted dad.
“When I returned home from hospital after having Colby it was often Richard who got up in the night and made sure he was okay,” she said.
She is still struggling to come to terms with her husband’s death but said she had taken comfort from messages of sympathy from people who had known Richard and told her what he had meant to them.
Mr Chaddock has two brothers, Phill (28) and Daniel (15) Williams of Hawton Lane, Balderton, and a sister, Mrs Kirstie White (27) of Orchard Way, Balderton.
They said they would remember him for his cheeky grin and his larger than life attitude.
“He was very much the protector and looked after us,” said Mrs White.
He also leaves his mother, Mrs Carol Williams, and stepfather Mr David Williams of Hawton Lane, Balderton; his father, Mr Stephen Gorman and stepmother Mrs Sally Gorman of North Yorkshire, and grandparents Mr and Mrs Tony Chaddock of Wolfit Avenue, Balderton, and Mr Jim Gorman of North Yorkshire.
