Two killed in flood clean-up

A man who died alongside his son as they cleared up flood damage in Tewkesbury has been described as a "lynchpin" of the community.

Bram and Chris Lane were among a dozen people who ventured through the filthy water flooding Tewkesbury Rugby Club, next to the town's ancient abbey, to assess the damage.

They continued to pump water from the cellar when the others had gone home and their bodies were discovered by the emergency services hours later after the alarm was raised.

It was not immediately clear whether they had been overcome by the fumes of the petrol-powered pump they were using or electrocuted as they worked.

Mr Lane senior, 64, was thought to be married to Sue and the couple were understood to have lived together in the town centre. Mr Lane junior was in his 20s.

The couple is thought to have two other sons, Steve and Matthew, who also live nearby.

Local resident Mandy Masters said she had known Mr Lane senior for three years through the rugby club, where he was director and treasurer.

Reflecting on his death, she said: "He was just the sort of man who would go down there to sort things out, the club was his life.

"He was the real lynchpin. It is going to be a massive loss as he kept it all going tickety boo."

Mr Lane senior was a keen rugby player in his youth and stayed on at the club after he finished playing and became heavily involved in its running.

Mrs Masters added: "He was a very well known bloke, he had been at the club for donkeys' years. He looked after the bar and the social scene and watched the matches."

She said about 12 volunteers had gathered at the club in the Vineyard fields to help clear up the mess.

She said: "They all decided they had been there long enough and it was time to go. Bram and his son Chris said they would stay a little bit longer."

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