Widow pays tribute to beloved husband killed by falling tree

Barry Hedges tragically died while he was fishing at Tockenham Reservoir, in Wiltshire, in August 2024. The 74-year-old, a keen fisherman, was hit by a tree and suffered fatal injuries.

Barry, from Chippenham, was well known locally for his work in recent years as a DJ, helping to entertain residents of care homes across Wiltshire during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He leaves behind his devastated widow Christine. Due to Christine’s deteriorating health, Barry was also his wife’s carer, and she has had to sell their home in Chippenham due to her inability to manage on her own.

At Barry’s inquest, held on Friday last week, his death was ruled to be an accident.

“Not only was Barry my soulmate, he was my carer too. He was the love of my life and I honestly don’t know what I am going to do without him. I cannot put into words how lost I feel without him,” says Christine.

“I have so many memories of Barry, which are a comfort, he really was so fun loving and full of life. But he was so noisy and it’s so quiet without him – even if I could manage living in this house on my own, I could never get over the fact he isn’t here with me.”

The couple first met in 1988 while working at pharma company RP Scherer in Swindon – now known as Catalent – and married in 1996. Barry started off as a machine operator and worked his way up to become a trainer.

Christine recalls she and her husband were “inseparable” for much of their lives together, and only due to her ill health did they stop going fishing together. Barry continued to fish with his friends, as well as Christine’s three sons. He also became a DJ, as an unexpected new hobby in his retirement.

“Barry’s mum had to go into a care home and Barry and I were so concerned that she seemed to be sitting not doing anything. We really wanted them to have more entertainment, which is where Barry’s DJing came from,” says Christine.

“During COVID, the need was greater than ever, so we ended up going to care homes right across Wiltshire. The faces of the people in the care home just lit up when Barry started playing tunes, it was a really lovely thing to do.”

Barry’s fun loving nature also saw him host a disco for his neighbours every Friday afternoon, another COVID lockdown initiative which continued past the pandemic.

“Our neighbours were fantastic and even did a collection for us to buy some new garden furniture to say thank you. They are such lovely memories. I’m not moving far away, so I won’t be a stranger, but very sadly I can’t live in the house where we had so many happy times anymore,” says Christine.

Christine is being supported by law firm Slater and Gordon in establishing the facts around her husband’s death. Senior associate Samantha Griffiths is acting on her behalf.

“The loss of her beloved Barry has been utterly devastating for Christine. Barry was clearly a very popular and vibrant man who will be missed by all who knew him. We will support Christine in every way we can to find out how Barry was involved in this horrific incident, and will do all we can to find the answers she needs and deserves,” says Samantha.