Parents’ tribute to all who helped Daryl

Daryl Hawkins, who died in Warwick on December 30, aged 45, suffered permanent brain damage after an attack outside a Leamington nightclub in the summer of 1985.

The student had just completed his first year of university at the London School of Economics, and was staying with his parents, who then lived in Lillington. He was enjoying a night out with his girlfriend Emma Scarisbrick when a group of three men attacked him from behind with a baseball bat.

Daryl underwent surgery for a blood clot in his brain but was left blind and dumb and unable to walk. His attackers were later jailed, getting four years each.

Following the incident the people of Warwick and Leamington responded, led by Emma and friends Russ Palmer and Graham Bell, and helped raise £96,000 to pay for intensive rehabilitation treatment, then unavailable on the NHS.

His father John Hawkins said: “It was so fantastic how the people of Warwick and Leamington rallied round. They did such a lot to help us. We want them to know how much their help was appreciated, it’s not been forgotten. People were having their hair shaved off, going on diets, doing fashion shows, all sorts.”

Emma also paid tribute to the thousands of people who supported the appeal and said: “What was fantastic was that the whole of Leamington got behind it. When the donations came in we felt overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion of the people of Leamington. I felt proud to be a Leamingtonian.

“It was a real community, really doing something. We had donations ranging from £5 to £3,000 - personal donations, hundreds of them. I’ve never seen anything like it since.”

She now feels Daryl’s death is the final chapter in a life left utterly changed.

She said: “I feel desperately sad that Daz has died, 25 years after being brain damaged and trapped inside a body that doesn’t work. I know he’s at peace now.

“I loved him dearly and I miss him loads. He was going places. He had his life in front of him and I’m sad he didn’t have the life he deserved. He never got to get married or have children.

“This is a time for reflection for everybody who knew him and was involved. I’m proud I was able to help, I wish I could have done more.”

His mother Olive Hawkins said: “It 100 per cent changed our lives, it was a bombshell - we spent 25 years looking after him.

“We feel that hopefully he’s with his big sister Jaquie, who we lost two years ago. They were very close.”

His father John said one thing he will remember about his son was his sporting achievements - playing cricket for Leamington, football for mid-Warwickshire, and being the school long jump champion.

He added: “We think he lived in his own little world. Communication was minimal but he could recognise voices after a time. Our aim was to give him the best care we could. We are his mum and dad and that’s what we are here for.”

Mr Hawkins’ funeral will take place at Oakley Wood Crematorium on Wednesday at 10.30am. There will be a gathering afterwards at the Newbold Comyn Arms.