An inquest has concluded into the death of a popular and much-loved former warden who made friends wherever he went.
Kelvin Buckles died on September 24 last year at the age of 66, after the motorcycle he was riding struck a telegraph pole in Nedging with Naughton.
Mr Buckles was well-liked by many in his community, having been a warden and then a manager for many years at Marshmoor Park, close to the village of Great Bricett where he lived.
On Monday, September 11, the friends and family of Mr Buckles gathered at the Ipswich Coroners Court.
The presiding coroner, Daniel Sharpstone, read aloud a statement written by Mr Buckles’ brother, Jason Buckles.
“Kelvin was a likable gent who got on with everyone,” he said. His brother was knowledgeable about a whole host of different topics and would often astonish his family with the things he knew.
Kelvin had various jobs during his life, he said, but it was his time as manager at the mobile home park which he enjoyed the most.
The court heard that Mr Buckles had been suffering from intermittent numbness in parts of his face for around three months before he died.
He visited his GP surgery three times in the weeks before died, complaining of vertigo, for which he was given medication.
Mr Buckles's close friend, Audrey Owen, told the court that Mr Buckles had been resting in bed in the days before he died, but on the day of his death, he appeared to be in good health.
She had seen him earlier that day, cutting a neighbour’s hedge, and told her that he “felt fine”.
Giving evidence in court was PC Dean Webb, a forensic collision investigator based in Stowmarket.
He told the court that Mr Buckles had been travelling south along New Road, from Naughton towards Whatfield, when his motorbike left the road and struck a telegraph pole at approximately 12:50pm.
Dashcam footage was provided by James Jenner, a car driver who arrived at the scene minutes after the crash.
The footage showed that a large tree branch was hanging over the road at “head height”, over what would have been Mr Buckles’ path.
Mr Jenner had to “swerve to avoid” the branch.
PC Webb said it was impossible to say whether the branch had already fallen when Mr Buckles encountered it, whether it had fallen as he was passing, or whether it may have struck him as it fell.
PC Webb also read out statements given by Mr Jenner a woman who lived in the nearby property The Gables.
The woman said that she and her son had heard a “loud bang" outside their home, and went to investigate.
Her son then discovered Mr Buckles, who was lying in the ditch running alongside New Road with his motorbike across his legs.
Mr Jenner attempted CPR on Mr Buckles and did not stop until an ambulance crew had arrived. However, despite their best efforts, Mr Buckles died at the scene.
An examination of the helmet he had been wearing showed that his visor was “heavily tinted”, PC Webb told the court.
“I am of the opinion that this tinted visor may have had a detrimental effect on Mr Buckles’ ability to see the branch and react in time, already a difficult task,” he told the court.
Presiding coroner Mr Sharpstone said that the court had heard of many factors, but it was impossible to say whether any of them had directly contributed to Mr Buckles's death.
Mr Buckles was, he said, a man who loved motorcycles and had decades of experience in riding them. Driving conditions on the day of September 24 were good, and an investigation had found no fault with the motorbike.
He therefore ruled that Mr Buckles died as a result of traumatic injuries resulting from a road traffic accident. He also offered his condolences to Mr Buckles’ friends and family who were present in court.
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