Pub raising money for Pringle family on funeral day

Friday 22 July 2016

A St Helier pub is hosting a special fund-raising evening tonight in aid of the Pringle family - whose three-year-old son Clinton died last month.

Today’s fund-raiser is on the same day that Clinton’s funeral will be held near Glasgow, a private memorial to the toddler, who died of his injuries three days after he collided with a van near the Millennium Town Park.

Martin Forbes, landlord of the Soleil Levant pub, Bath Street, said his regulars were determined to raise money for the Pringles, whose son died while on holiday in Jersey with his mother Stacey.

Mr Forbes said: “Basically one of the taxi drivers who comes in, Dougie McCormack, was chatting with one of his colleagues and he suggested we should host a night to raise money for the family. One of Dougie’s pals had Clinton and his family in his taxi a while back and was saying how much the wee boy loved Celtic Football Club.  

“We have got five acts on in the pub, starting at 5pm, and all have offered their services for free. 

“I think nobody cannot comprehend what the family have gone through, so it is just something to send them to show how we feel. The money can be used for anything the family want to spend it on, we just want to help in any way we can. Everyone is invited to come along.”

As well as the live acts, there will be a raffle and auction, including signed items from former Ryder Cup skipper and US Masters champion Ian Woosnam, plus ex-Celtic star Victor Wanyama. 

Jersey mother-of-two Nicola McAteer, a friend of the Pringle family, started an online petition which has over 3,200 signatures, calling for urgent road safety changes to be made to the Millennium Town Park. 

She said: “I am very pleased with the response we have had from a very concerned public but as yet I have still not received a reply from anyone in authority. That is both disappointing and surprising. I very strongly feel that immediate changes are needed where the tragedy occurred and so do the public.”

A 38-year-old woman was arrested on road traffic offences, but no charges have been made.