26 February 1998

Bridge Farm is not the happiest place in the world as everyone’s coming to terms with the loss. Pat just can’t believe it – and the fact that she didn’t see him yesterday, not even to ask how the dinner with Hayley had gone. Hayley’s gone away for a few days so they’re not even sure how to tell her. Peggy and Jennifer are there to console them, but the task is beyond them.
The family, and the village, are rallying round, David’s got the milking under control and, in no uncertain terms, tells Tony to leave the farm alone, that he’s got other things to worry about. Neil and Roy were round offering help, Clarrie’s offers Eddie’s services and Kate’s back to help in the dairy, despite yesterday’s resignation.
A representative of the HSE arrives – standard procedure – to ask about the circumstances. A painful process but Tony tells of the argument, how John didn’t really know the Fergie that well and how his mind has been more on his personal life than work recently. Later, when looking at the site, she comments that it looks as though he’d been trying to jump clear at the time of the accident.
Tony’s taking it very badly, blaming himself for arguing and for not mending the tractor – he just doesn’t know how he’s going to bury his son. Roy is simiarly affected, just not knowing how to cope with losing his best friend. He vists the site of the accident with Neil and sees some flowers and asks, “What flowers do you get for a best mate?”

Summarised by: Chris Harrison