Last month was National Road Victim Month, an annual campaign highlighting the significant number of people needlessly killed and injured in crashes on the UK’s roads. The campaign, organized by RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, aims to raise awareness about the following facts:
- Every day in the UK, five people are killed and around 80 are seriously injured, on average, in road collisions.
- Since records began in 1926, over 500,000 people have been killed in UK road crashes, far exceeding the 375,000 UK citizens killed due to warfare during the same period.
- The routine daily activity of driving results in more fatalities annually in the UK than both murder and terrorism combined.
- In 2022 alone, 1,766 people were reported killed and 141,560 people were reported injured in collisions on UK roads.
National Road Victim Month, which was established in 1998 by RoadPeace, also recognizes the work of the emergency services, who respond to road crashes every day, and highlights the mental and physical impact that road crashes have on them.
Last month’s campaign, which was heavily supported by Webb’s of Crickhowell, focused on raising awareness about the many needless deaths and injuries that occur every day on our roads. Pat and Mike Webb tragically lost their son, Harry, in September 2023 in a hit and run incident while Harry was out cycling. His loss left his family and friends devastated. In support of RoadPeace, John Webb will be donating the funds received from his history talks throughout the year to the campaign in memory of Harry.
Alongside the National Road Victim Month, Harry Webb was also remembered as part of the Green Man Festival, which took place at the Glanusk Estate last month. Fiona Stewart of the Green Man Festival had heard about Harry and about his friends who had come to the hospital and waited for two long days, willing Harry to recover following the hit and run. Fiona also knew that Harry was a musician and well-loved locally. As a result, she invited Harry’s friends to the Green Man as guests so that they could be together and share their memories of Harry. Notes were tied to the Green Man by his friends and family for memories and lasting friendship.
A touching tribute from the Festival itself to Harry reads as follows: “Green Man 2024 is dedicated to Harry Webb, a son of Crickhowell and a Welsh Man of music. For 27 years, the world enjoyed his sparkling intellect, incredible talent, and beautiful kind heart. Harry achieved so much and touched many lives, including those of his wonderful family and friends from all over the world who will be forever connected through their love for him. “The thoughts of you are so beguiling I dreamt about you and woke up smiling” – lyrics from Harry Webb’s own composition: ‘I Woke up Smiling’.”
Harry’s family highlight that the kindness, compassion, and generosity shown by Fiona Stewart is a huge comfort. Pat Webb said that, “The wonderful gesture has helped many of his friends from all different sections of Harry’s life get together and share in their loss and remember Harry’s love of life, laughter, and music.”
