Grieving Bristol father needs help to buy son a headstone

A GRIEVING father is planning a fundraising campaign so he can buy a headstone for his teenage son's grave.

Gordon Clapp had hoped for an insurance payout to cover the £4,000 cost of a headstone in Mangotsfield Cemetery.

But he has now given up hope of receiving any money despite the help of a solicitor and the threat of legal proceedings.

Mr Clapp's son, Jamie, died two years ago at the age of 13 when he was a passenger in a light aircraft which crashed into a field and burst into flames.

The pilot, Robert Gunter, 34, from Downend, was also killed in the accident.

But Mr Gunter's insurance company has refused to make a payment because an inquest was told he had taken ecstasy before the flight.

Mr Clapp, 66, of Long Road, Mangotsfield, said: "The insurance company has pulled out of this country and gone back to Turkey.

"I don't think there is any chance of getting any payment now. I was not after millions for myself, I just wanted enough to be able to put my son to rest."

Mr Clapp, a former builder and British Rail worker who is now disabled, said he cannot afford to pay for a headstone himself.

He organised a fundraising campaign after Jamie's death for a skateboard park at Emersons Green in his memory.

So far, he has raised about £20,000 which includes the promise of matched funding from South Gloucestershire Council. Mr Clapp said he will finish the skateboard campaign before trying to raise money for a headstone.

He said he was told that if the accident was caused by a fault with the Cessna 150 plane, then there would not be a pay-out but if the cause was pilot error, then he would be entitled to some compensation.

Mr Clapp said: "My solicitors have told me the insurance company won't pay out because the pilot was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident and this has invalidated the claim."

An inquest was told that Mr Gunter, who was a friend of the family, took Jamie, a pupil at Mangotsfield School, for a flight as an early 14th birthday treat.

The plane had taken off at a very steep angle and stalled at between 200ft and 250ft before falling nose-first and bursting into flames. A verdict of accidental death was recorded for Jamie and one of misadventure for Mr Gunter.