Fundraising page tops target after tragic death of Northampton Rotarian Paul Simpson

Northampton Becket Rotary Club members are mourning the loss of their friend after he was fatally struck by a tractor on a 185 mile charity one-man hike near Lyonshall.

Rotarian Paul Simpson, 66, was taking part in a solo sponsored walk on the 180-mile Offa’s Dyke path when he was killed on day four of his 14 day walk from Chepstow to Prestatyn.

The fundraising page Paul set up days before his death has now beat the £1,000 target and donations can still be made, which will help to fund deliveries to food banks in the town.

David Allitt, of Rotary Northampton, has added to the tributes paid to Paul. He said: "I was on the Dragon Boat committee with him for a long time and he was a great inspirational character.

"The Rotary movement helps people locally and he was a huge part of the local effort to raise funds and help people. He was probably the most inspirational Rotarian I had ever met."

Paul had decided that the challenge would be another way to raise extra cash to support Northampton's food banks - after he selflessly went out of his way to deliver food to them during the lockdown.

Paul was the former president of Rotary Becket between 2018 and 2019 and was well known for helping to organise major fundraising events for the town, including the annual Dragon Boat Race, which he chaired for six years, and Santa Fun Run in Northampton.

Robert Martell, of Rotary Beckett, added: "Paul was dedicated to helping others. In addition to the organising fundraising events he was chair of the Dragon Boat Race Festival and the Charity Santa Fun Run Committees.

"He loved to take on projects helping the likes of Northamptonshire Young Carers, the Hope Centre and other Food Banks, purchasing the food and delivering it to the recipients.

"He would annually take people with disabilities to the activity centre run by Calvert Trust in the Lake District staying there with the person for the week of the course. He was very hands on.

"In addition Paul was strong family man together with his wife Jane helping with the care of their grandchildren on a daily basis.

"Paul loved walking and it was for that reason that he decided to undertake the Offa’s Dyke Walk to raise money for the club to continue in support the Food Banks in Northampton. He created a web page for this with TotalGiving, which we have decided to leave up in case anyone wants to make a payment in Paul's memory.

"Paul was exceptional in that if a job needed doing he would take it on and see it through to the end without asking for help. He would help without first being asked.

"He leaves a tremendous hole in heart of Rotary Becket which will not easily be filled."