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| Villagers rally after shooting | Villagers rally after shooting |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| By Andrew Dawkins BBC News, Fairfield, Worcestershire | By Andrew Dawkins BBC News, Fairfield, Worcestershire |
| "I think the hardest time for that couple is going to be Christmas, because Craig loved Christmas," said villager Elsie Bowditch. | "I think the hardest time for that couple is going to be Christmas, because Craig loved Christmas," said villager Elsie Bowditch. |
| class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/8407787.stm">The gangs 'targeting' rural businesses | |
| The 77-year-old, who lives a few doors away from the scene of the fatal shooting in Fairfield, Worcestershire, was quick to express sympathy for the young victim's parents. | The 77-year-old, who lives a few doors away from the scene of the fatal shooting in Fairfield, Worcestershire, was quick to express sympathy for the young victim's parents. |
| Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, was shot dead by raiders at the family business - a post office and general store. | Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, was shot dead by raiders at the family business - a post office and general store. |
| But the friendly community rallied round to offer support to Craig's mother, Judith, and his father, Ken, who was shot in the leg. | But the friendly community rallied round to offer support to Craig's mother, Judith, and his father, Ken, who was shot in the leg. |
| While the couple took time off many volunteers came forward to offer to work at the business and thousands of pounds were raised at a summer concert. | While the couple took time off many volunteers came forward to offer to work at the business and thousands of pounds were raised at a summer concert. |
| 'So brave' | 'So brave' |
| Mrs Bowditch, who has lived in the village for more than 30 years, recalls a special service at St Mark's Church opposite the store at the centre of the community. | Mrs Bowditch, who has lived in the village for more than 30 years, recalls a special service at St Mark's Church opposite the store at the centre of the community. |
| She said: "We all met up in the village hall so we could speak to Judy after the service. | She said: "We all met up in the village hall so we could speak to Judy after the service. |
| "As she's said, which is true, 'it doesn't matter what you say Elsie, it's not going to make any difference'. | "As she's said, which is true, 'it doesn't matter what you say Elsie, it's not going to make any difference'. |
| "And it isn't, is it? What can you say when you've lost your son through a shooting?" | "And it isn't, is it? What can you say when you've lost your son through a shooting?" |
| Resident Kay Stone said the shooting brought the village together | Resident Kay Stone said the shooting brought the village together |
| About 100 people volunteered to work at the store on the main road in the village and up to 20 were on a rota for about eight weeks, the parish council said. | About 100 people volunteered to work at the store on the main road in the village and up to 20 were on a rota for about eight weeks, the parish council said. |
| In July 18 bands performed to more than 1,000 people at Fairfield Festival and raised £7,000. | In July 18 bands performed to more than 1,000 people at Fairfield Festival and raised £7,000. |
| The money went to two charities chosen by the Hodson-Walker family, the RSPCA and Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer. | The money went to two charities chosen by the Hodson-Walker family, the RSPCA and Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer. |
| Mrs Bowditch said she thought the hardest time for the couple would be Christmas and the 9 January, the first anniversary of the shooting. | Mrs Bowditch said she thought the hardest time for the couple would be Christmas and the 9 January, the first anniversary of the shooting. |
| 'Move on' | 'Move on' |
| She said: "I just hope after the trial that they can move on a bit because I think they were so brave to go back in that shop. | She said: "I just hope after the trial that they can move on a bit because I think they were so brave to go back in that shop. |
| "When I go in there I get a kiss from the staff - that's what kind of a shop it is." | "When I go in there I get a kiss from the staff - that's what kind of a shop it is." |
| Another regular customer, Angela Cottrill, 61, remembered Craig Hodson-Walker as a "wonderful, wonderful chap". | Another regular customer, Angela Cottrill, 61, remembered Craig Hodson-Walker as a "wonderful, wonderful chap". |
| She said: "He was friendly, helpful, very pleasant, outgoing - you name it and I think Craig was all of those. | She said: "He was friendly, helpful, very pleasant, outgoing - you name it and I think Craig was all of those. |
| "He'd have a laugh with everybody and he'd be helpful to the elderly and nothing was too much trouble." | "He'd have a laugh with everybody and he'd be helpful to the elderly and nothing was too much trouble." |
| Villagers said nothing was too much trouble for Craig Hodson-Walker | Villagers said nothing was too much trouble for Craig Hodson-Walker |
| Kay Stone, 59, who has lived in Fairfield for 12 years, said everybody was absolutely stunned that this could happen in their village. | Kay Stone, 59, who has lived in Fairfield for 12 years, said everybody was absolutely stunned that this could happen in their village. |
| She said: "It always happens on somebody else's doorstep and not your own and to suddenly hear that it had happened in our post office, it was horrific. | She said: "It always happens on somebody else's doorstep and not your own and to suddenly hear that it had happened in our post office, it was horrific. |
| "The whole village instantly went into mourning - [I've] never seen anything like it before. | "The whole village instantly went into mourning - [I've] never seen anything like it before. |
| "I think the mood is not too dissimilar from how it was in January because everybody is reliving it all again. | "I think the mood is not too dissimilar from how it was in January because everybody is reliving it all again. |
| "I hadn't realised it was such a tight community until this happened. | "I hadn't realised it was such a tight community until this happened. |
| "It has brought the village together - [these were] very sad circumstances in which to bring a village together, but it has done." | "It has brought the village together - [these were] very sad circumstances in which to bring a village together, but it has done." |
| James Bradley, the chairman of Belbroughton Parish Council, which covers Fairfield, said there was "shock and revulsion" at the time. | James Bradley, the chairman of Belbroughton Parish Council, which covers Fairfield, said there was "shock and revulsion" at the time. |
| He said: "There's been a desire in the village that justice should be done, and there's been renewed sympathy for the family but that's not to imply it went away." | He said: "There's been a desire in the village that justice should be done, and there's been renewed sympathy for the family but that's not to imply it went away." |
| Looking to the future, a room at Fairfield First School will be dedicated in memory of Craig Hodson-Walker. | Looking to the future, a room at Fairfield First School will be dedicated in memory of Craig Hodson-Walker. |
| Mrs Bowditch added: "I think it's going to be a long time before everybody gets over it. I mean it's going to go down in the history of the village isn't it?" | Mrs Bowditch added: "I think it's going to be a long time before everybody gets over it. I mean it's going to go down in the history of the village isn't it?" |