A FARRIER from Brampton Bryan who lost his wife and mother in a tragic road accident in which four people died wants to help the Air Ambulance service that saved his life.

Steve Alford, aged 57, was badly injured in a crash on Good Friday in which his wife Gill, aged 58 and mother Vida, 86, were killed.

His mother had come to Shropshire to celebrate her birthday with the family just three days before the accident.

Two people including a young child and his grandmother in the other car also died in the accident.

Three air ambulances were dispatched to the accident on the A470 Rhayader to Llangurig road. It resulted in the road being closed for several hours.

The accident between Church Street in Rhyader and the Llangurig Island happened at about 11.40am on Good Friday this year and turned into a terrible tragedy for both families that had their lives torn apart.

It happened when a Red Seat Leon driven by Steve Alford and with his wife and mother as passengers was in collision with a silver Vauxhall Agila driven by Margaretta Jones, aged 77 with her grandson Ned, aged five.

Gillian and Vida Alford and Margaretta and Ned Jones all died at the scene. But Steve Alford survived and was airlifted to hospital in Stoke with back and chest injuries.

When he got to hospital it was discovered that he had broken his back and as a result Steve has had to give up work as a self-employed farrier.

However, had it not been for the prompt treatment it could have been even worse. So he has decided to hold a one day sale at his home in Brampton Bryan to show his gratitude for the help that he received on that traumatic day.

Gill was a keen gardener and a professional jewellery maker and on that fatal day they were on a trip to Wales in connection with her work.

The sale of the jewellery and plants is intended as a practical memorial for the two great creative passions of her life: the designing and making of jewellery and the cultivation of plants and trees including Bonsai.

“She started making jewellery about five years ago and had becoming very good at it,” said Steve.

“Gill was also a keen gardener and had been growing bonsai trees since she was young and also had acer and geraniums.

“It am not a gardener and not really able to look after the plants but I will keep a small number that I can take special care of.

“Many of Jill’s customers were buying presents for family and friends.

“Since she died many of them have said to me that they would like to buy a piece for themselves. Hopefully this sale will enable them to do so.”

Sheridan Swinson, of Aardvark Books in Brampton Bryan and a friend of the family, described Gill as a ‘lovely woman.’

“Gill was a very popular member of the local community and her death has been felt deeply by many of those she lived amongst,” he said.

All proceeds from the sale will go to the Welsh and Midlands Air Ambulance services and donations are also welcome.

The sale is at The Pink House in Bramapton Bryan between 10am and 4pm on Saturday (August 27).