VICAR IN CAR ACCIDENT

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28367, 28 August 1957, Page 7

VICAR IN CAR ACCIDENT

Objection To Doctor’s Tie

(R ec. L pm) LONDON, Aug. 26. „Hk 56-year-old vicar, charged uith dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of w ,? s said toda y to have hi™. a .P T Ol L ce d °ctor who examined rum. I don t like your tie—it’s the wrong university.” The vicar,’ the Rev. Frederick cui- W u U Re y nold s Richmond, of Sittingbourne, pleaded not guiltv to the charges at the East-Kent QVjjrtor Sessions. Canterbury. When the doctor asked him Which university it was, the vicar was alleged to have replied: “I don t know, but it‘s one of those Irish ones.”

The prosecutor, Mr A. Babington, said that when the doctor asked the vicar to stand on one . he , sald: “Don’t be so silly. What do you think I-’ve got two legs for?”

The prosecutor said that a lorry driver who saw the vicar’s car approaching in a narrow lane pulled up because there was insufficient room to pass. But the vicar drove straight at him at a fast rate, and hit the truck head on.

Defending counsel, Mr Malcolm Morris, said that the vicar had had two glasses of sherry to get rid of the taste of petrol. He had swallowed a mouthful of petrol in siphoning it into a motor ?}? o w + sherry had not affected his ability to drive Mr Morris said that Richmond, m hjs younger days, was a great athlete, and had played cricket for three counties. He had aged prematurely, and there were’times when he was unable to stand unaided. On Sunday last he had collapsed in church. He conducted most of his services sitting down.

The accident was an error of judgment, involving only a matter of inches, or a foot or two at the most. In trying to pass the lorry he thought he had room to get by, said Mr Morris. A doctor gave evidence that Richmond had a misshapen knee which prevented him from standing with his feet together. His leg muscles were weak and eye pupil reaction sluggish because of premature ageing. The case will be-continued tomorrow.