Setback for Shire horse charity challenge

13 August 2021

A man who is driving two Shire horses across the country to raise money for charity in honour of his late police officer brother was forced to put his challenge on hold after being hospitalised following a freak accident during his trip.

Farmer Jamie Alcock, whose brother PC John Alcock died in a tragic car collision, was around two months into his 650-mile fundraising challenge when the incident happened.

Jamie (55) is raising cash for Police Care UK but was crushed by Shires Willam and Millie during a stop-over. 

“Unfortunately, something spooked both Willam and Millie as they were being unharnessed and, as Jamie put it, ‘wrong place wrong time’,” said a post on Jamie’s fundraising page, as he recovered in hospital having been treated for 11 broken ribs, hairline fractures in four vertebrae, a fractured scapula and a collapsed lung."

Jamie, who this week set off on his journey again, initially anticipated that it would take him eight weeks to travel from his farm in Gloucestershire to Morayshire in North East Scotland, where his brother, John, is buried. 

John was in a coma for 14 years following an accident which happened while he was travelling in a car to guard Prince Charles in 2003.  The Police Federation helped fund an extension to his home to allow John to receive the best of care. He died in 2017.

Police Care UK is a national charity which supports both serving and retired officers with both their physical and mental health.

“What would really put a smile on his face is seeing that donation total rise,” continued the post on Jamie’s fundraising page, with the total having already reached £32,000.

“Let’s all donate just £1 and see what difference that makes – thank you to everyone who has donated so far.”

The two Shire horses were relocated to a specialist stud and livery firm in Perth while Jamie recovered from his traumatic accident.

Despite his injuries, Jamie is still determined to continue his challenge and is hoping to arrive at his final destination on 21 August. 

Donate to Jamie’s fundraising page.