RUSSELL TODD & MR MARK TODD (grave 62)

Of all the burials at Scampton, these two proved to be among the most difficult to research. The grave is not only unique in that it is a father and son who died on the same day, but also because it is the only RAF grave for a civilian in the churchyard.

Flight Lieutenant Todd was serving with 617 Squadron in the General Duties Branch and lived, together with his family, in Vulcan Close at RAF Scampton, which by coincidence is where a large part of this book was researched and written, as Gary Mennell lived for a period in the same street of RAF married quarters.

It was late on a Monday afternoon when Russell Todd (44) and his eighteen year old son Mark died in a car accident on the crossroads of the Welton to Spridlington Road and the Hackthorn to Cold Hanworth Road.

Although there were no witnesses to the crash, it would appear that Russell pulled out of a minor road into the path of a Land Rover being driven by 74 year-old Harold Fox. Mr Fox was a well known local businessman and although he survived the initial crash, he died of his injuries three days later.

Investigation of the crash site showed that recent road resurfacing had obliterated the give-way markings at the junction and overgrown hedges made visibility of the main road very difficult. At the inquest, verdicts of death by misadventure were recorded on the two drivers and a verdict of accidental death was recorded on Mark Todd.