Second tragedy strikes family

The wife of a dedicated biker and family man has spoken of her devastation after her husband was killed in a road accident, five years after their daughter also died in an accident.

Mr Jake Cotterill (56) of Tuxford Road, Boughton, died when his Honda motorcycle left the road on the A614 Blyth Road, near Perlethorpe, on February 9.

Five years ago this week, his daughter, Tara Cotterill, died in a car accident near Kinloss in Scotland where she was based with the RAF as a telecommunications officer. She was 19.

Mr Cotterill was returning from the Clumber Park Hotel, Worksop, with his friend, Mr Gary McCree, who was travelling on his green Kawasaki in front of him, when the accident happened.

Mr Cotterill’s wife, Mrs Debs Cotterill, said: “Tara’s death hit him very hard but for this to happen as well is just terrible for us.

“They had gone for a little ride out and to play pool, which he loved doing, and they were on their way home when the accident happened.

“We do not know yet what happened, but we think he may have just lost control of his bike.”

His funeral will take place on March 5, which would have been the 25th anniversary of the couple’s wedding.

Mr Cotterill was born in Southwell but moved to Bilsthorpe when he was young after his late father, Mr Jack Cotterill, found work as a miner at Bilsthorpe Colliery.

After leaving the Dukeries College he also worked as a miner at Bilsthorpe and other pits in the area, finishing at Harworth Colliery before being made redundant.

He was then given work as a sheet metal worker with Boughton Industrial Cladding of Beacon Court, Boughton, by Mr McCree, who owns the company.

Although the job was temporary, he enjoyed the work so much he stayed for 41/2 years until his death.

Mr McCree’s wife, Mrs Rachel McCree, said: “They were best friends rather than employer and employee.

“He just went out of his way to make other people smile, despite everything he had been through himself.”

Mr Cotterill had been a successful pigeon racer, but sold all of his birds recently, despite winning many trophies.

Mrs Cotterill said his pride and joy was his Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he owned as well as his Honda.

She said he would spend hours cleaning it and they went on holiday on it together, riding down to Cornwall, and even into Europe.

She said at Mr Cotterill’s funeral a procession of bikers on their motorcycles will follow the funeral cars.

Mr Steve Lainsbury, will lead the procession on Mr Cotterill’s Harley Davidson.

The service will be held at St Paulinus’ Church, Ollerton, at 10am. He will be buried in Ollerton Cemetery in a plot next to where his daughter is buried.

Mr Cotterill is survived by his mother, Mrs Lil Cotterill (87) of Bilsthorpe. He also leaves a son, Mr Jason Cotterill (21) an electrician.

Anyone with information about the accident should contact Pc Tim King on 01636 605999.