Tributes paid to Shropshire couple killed in Mauritius
Tributes were today paid to a Shropshire couple killed in a crash while travelling in a taxi in Mauritius.
Gerald Dakin, Shropshire councillor for Whitchurch, met Hugh several times and today spoke of his shock and sadness at his and his wife's death.
"He was a fantastic bloke who was very friendly, hardworking and ambitious. I am absolutely shocked and devastated to hear of his death," Councillor Dakin said.
"He manufactured parts for anaerobic digesters and invited me along to see how they are made locally.
"I was impressed with the quality of the building and aura of his business.
"He will be a great loss to Landia and certainly to the work force."
He added: "I met his wife occasionally but didn't have much to do with her."
Mr Vaughan was the UK director of Landia, which supplies machinery to farmers across the UK from its base in Whitchurch.
Last year he backed the Shropshire Star’s Fair Deal for Farmers campaign by displaying the campaign stickers in Landia trucks and offices.
He said he wanted to support the Shropshire Star’s campaign the moment he read about it.
He told the Shropshire Star the farming industry was not just important to rural communities, but to every part of the UK.
Mr Vaughan said he always bought his milk from an independent dairy, and where possible buys produce from a farm shop.
He said that many people did not realise that farming was one of the biggest employers in the UK and generates vast amounts for the British economy.
Speaking to the Shropshire Star Mr Vaughan said he grew up on a farm near Redbrook, on the Welsh border, and had worked in the industry all his life.
“Just like the farming industry we had to diversify many years ago to survive, but our roots are firmly in agriculture and there will all ways be 100 per cent support from our company,” he said.
The coroner’s office said they have not been informed of the deaths yet. An inquest is likely to be held in Shropshire at a later date.
