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60 reasons to celebrate crash victim Bob's life
THE family of a former rugby player who was paralysed in an horrific road smash 13 years ago are hoping for a right old scrum when they celebrate a landmark birthday it was feared he might never see.
The family of Bob "Pedro" Palmer are celebrating the 60th birthday of the popular rugby stalwart at an event at the Tech rugby club in Wiltshire Way, Hartlepool, from 7pm on Friday night.
The dad-of-four was crippled at the age of 47 when his Renault Megane car was in a collision with another vehicle near the junction of West View Road and Warren Road, in Hartlepool. on September 20, 1997.
Bob, who is 60 tomorrow, was an imposing forward for a number of town teams including Hartlepool Rovers and Athletic, Tech and Old Boys, and was also well known as the larger-than-life bouncer at the Park Hotel and known by many across the town as Pedro.
The respected and well-liked Hartlepool doorman, who was in the car with his 18-year-old daughter, Gemma, and her three-month-old baby, Shannon, when the smash happened, spent 18 months in hospital before being allowed home.
Gemma, now 31, and Shannon, now 12, are urging everyone to attend a birthday party some people feared might never happen.
Bob, who lives in the Throston area of Hartlepool, and also has three sons, Dean, 30, Anthony, 28 and Philip, 26, said: "It was the dedication and devotion of my family that got me through everything. You couldn't wish for a better family and I know I'm lucky to be here to celebrate with everyone.
"I've some great friends who have also helped me over the years and I would love those who have lost contact to come along on Friday night. I can't thank everyone enough for their help and support over the years"
Gemma, who lives in the West View area, said it was an open invitation to anyone who knew her dad.
She said: "Many, many people knew dad as Bob while many also knew him as Pedro.
"The nickname was just a family thing but a lot of people knew him by it.
"He really is grateful for all of the support people showed over the years and he would love to have a laugh and a drink with them.
"The party is for people that have not seen him for a long time and it's a case of the more the merrier. It will be a great social atmosphere."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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