A 97-year-old lifelong Luton Town fan who was trapped under a car in an accident, had a surprise visit from LTFC players on Friday.
Roy Wightman from Leagrave, has been at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital with a broken leg since his accident on December 8.
After a request from the Luton News, Hatters players Ronnie Henry (captain), Stuart Fleetwood, Jake Howells and Mark Tyler (goalkeeper), brought Mr Wightman LTFC goodies including a scarf and a signed team photograph.
Mr Wightman said: “This has lifted my spirits so much, I can’t tell you how wonderful it is, it means the world to me. I can’t believe it has happened, and I am so appreciative.
“I was feeling quite depressed today because I had a set-back. I thought I’d be going home yesterday then I found out I have to have a second operation and stay in over Christmas but this has lifted me.”
Mr Wightman had been Christmas shopping for his neighbours and was walking home along Faringdon Road at about 12.30pm when a car knocked him over and he was trapped beneath it.
Incredibly, he remained conscious as firefighters, paramedics and the air ambulance crew worked to lift the car off him.
Son Tony Wightman, 60, said his father’s generation are tough and resilient, and he believes it’s his father’s fitness that helped him to survive the accident.
Mr Wightman was a keen cyclist until he was 92, and still goes out walking and climbing with his son.
He said: “I am determined, with all the help from the staff here looking after me, to do my best. I’ve just got to get through Christmas.
“The doctors and nurses are doing their best, and I am trying with all my might to fight back.”
Mr Wightman does a lot of community work and has volunteered for Keech Hospice Care since the charity founded 21 years ago.
It was Mr Wightman’s postman, Derrick Field, who initially got in touch with the Luton News to ask if we would be able to help arrange for the LTFC players to visit Mr Wightman in hospital and cheer him up.
In May this year, the Luton News ran a story on Mr Wightman being the oldest Luton supporter in the town as he prepared to make the trip to Wembley and watch the Hatters in the play-offs.
Mr Wightman remembers going to watch his first Town match as a six-year-old with his father, when the tickets cost sixpence.
He said some of his favourite players of all time are Roy Baynam, Bob Morton and Sid Owen.
He said: “I’ve seen so many great footballers at Kenilworth Road over the years and I hope to be back there again soon.
“This visit has done wonders for me.
“Thank you so much. This is something to remember.”