Tree crashes through house as 70mph winds batter Hampshire (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Weather causes havoc across Hampshire
9:40am Tuesday 13th December 2011 in Winchester
A FATHER has told of the terrifying moment a tree crashed onto him as he lay in bed.
Dick Wilkinson, 65, was trapped in his bedroom after a 60ft beech tree fell on the roof of his Winchester home this morning.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo Mr Wilkinson said: “I was lying in bed half asleep half awake because of the storm when suddenly there was this incredible crash. I knew exactly what had happened.
“When I came to either a tile or a brick or a piece of branch struck my head quite hard luckily it only tore my ear, so I am on the way to get that sorted out now.”
Daughter Eleanor, 20, studying classics at Oxford, said she was woken by the sound of the tree crashing through the roof and tried desperately to get into her father's room.
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“There was just this crash, I figured it must have been one of the trees so I went to dad's room but I couldn't get in. It was just wedged shut.
“It was a lucky escape in the end, the firefighters managed to get him out.”
Crews from Winchester were called and used a ladder to help rescue Mr Wilkinson from the Westley Close property just after 4am today.
A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "It must have been quite a shock to him to find a tree in his bedroom. It could have been a lot more serious."
This morning the pair returned to the address to see the damage. Mr Wilkinson, a retired teacher at Winchester College, said: “It does look really quite devastating, I am just so lucky that I wasn't lying on the other side of the bed. It was very close.”
Mr Wilkinson's wife Angela, 50, was visiting family in London last night, but Mr Wilkinson said she could have been seriously injured if she were there.
“The debris missed me by inches but it would have been on her side of the bed.”
Mr Wilkinson was treated for injuries to his ear by paramedics but was this morning at Salisbury hospital for treatment that may have to involve plastic surgery.
Cambridge graduate Mr Wilkinson is presently chairman of governors of the University of Winchester after being head of Spanish at Winchester College.
He has lived in Winchester for more than 20 years. He joined the diplomatic service in 1972 but left in 2005.
He was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1991 in recognition of his service at the British Embassy in Paris.
The drama came as winds with speeds of up to 70 miles per hour battered Hampshire last night.
Hampshire police dealt with more than 200 calls due to flooding and fallen trees.
The M3 just north of Winchester was closed for almost an hour after a ten vehicle collision at about 7am.
The Met Office is forecasting more storms for later this week.
Comments(18)
Supersaintz
says...
8:34am Tue 13 Dec 11
zurichboy
says...
8:50am Tue 13 Dec 11
Supersaintz wrote:He has one hand on your shoulder for sure!
^^^Watch out, grammer police about ^^^
hulla baloo
says...
8:59am Tue 13 Dec 11
For pity sake
says...
9:59am Tue 13 Dec 11
Supersaintz wrote:"GrammAr", please.
^^^Watch out, grammer police about ^^^
The Salv
says...
10:58am Tue 13 Dec 11
.
There are many trees that are hardley attached to the ground through rot etc. Important to get these checked.
bigfella
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12:14pm Tue 13 Dec 11
moonshadow
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12:28pm Tue 13 Dec 11
Dawnmilky
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1:38pm Tue 13 Dec 11
The Salv
says...
1:49pm Tue 13 Dec 11
Dawnmilky wrote:People dont do good deeds to receive praise or gratitude, shame you had to mention it.
Nice to see he thanked my other half who was actually the one who called the emergency services, and was there when it happened as he was delivering milk to a house opposite and also went back after he had finished his round to make sure he was OK!!!! That's gratitude for you!!!!
hello121
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1:54pm Tue 13 Dec 11
Dawnmilky
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1:54pm Tue 13 Dec 11
No your right, that's why when Dick told him to contact the paper he hasnt done so. But is it really that hard to say a simple 'Thank you'?! Pretty sure I would be thanking anyone that helped me in that situation!
elwilk
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2:48pm Tue 13 Dec 11
Mrsc24
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3:11pm Tue 13 Dec 11
Dawnmilky wrote:I think your complaining about a lack of public thanks from a man in shock during an interview that lasted about a minute takes away the unconditional kindness that good deeds are all about. Does your husband know you are complaining on his behalf? I think Mr Wilkinson was probably more worried about the TV camera in front of him, or perhaps the bandage around his head, or maybe the prospect of cosmetic surgery over Christmas, or possibly the shock of a tree landing on his bed in the middle of the night and feeling lucky to be alive. More than one person can report incidents to 999, so perhaps you both did but it's not about who got there first or who did more, surely the fact that everyone is ok is all that really matters. I am sure if your husband had called round in a few days time to check he was ok he would have received many thanks without prompt. I agree with The Salv - what a shame you had to mention it at all.
Nice to see he thanked my other half who was actually the one who called the emergency services, and was there when it happened as he was delivering milk to a house opposite and also went back after he had finished his round to make sure he was OK!!!! That's gratitude for you!!!!
elwilk
says...
3:19pm Tue 13 Dec 11
Mrsc24 wrote:I agree. Thank you.
Dawnmilky wrote:I think your complaining about a lack of public thanks from a man in shock during an interview that lasted about a minute takes away the unconditional kindness that good deeds are all about. Does your husband know you are complaining on his behalf? I think Mr Wilkinson was probably more worried about the TV camera in front of him, or perhaps the bandage around his head, or maybe the prospect of cosmetic surgery over Christmas, or possibly the shock of a tree landing on his bed in the middle of the night and feeling lucky to be alive. More than one person can report incidents to 999, so perhaps you both did but it's not about who got there first or who did more, surely the fact that everyone is ok is all that really matters. I am sure if your husband had called round in a few days time to check he was ok he would have received many thanks without prompt. I agree with The Salv - what a shame you had to mention it at all.
Nice to see he thanked my other half who was actually the one who called the emergency services, and was there when it happened as he was delivering milk to a house opposite and also went back after he had finished his round to make sure he was OK!!!! That's gratitude for you!!!!
SotonLad
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6:55pm Tue 13 Dec 11
solomum
says...
10:19pm Tue 13 Dec 11
SotonLad wrote:I think you will find he was in the room above the garage.
Why was he sleeping in the garage?
kitchenmark
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10:51pm Tue 13 Dec 11
Ps. Mrsc24 - I want to buy you a beer. Your response to Dawnmilky's disrespectful comment couldn't have been more perfectly constructed.
meechy says...
8:25am Tue 13 Dec 11