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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE January 2022 9

Hugs Let it snow Tragedy of

By Janet Reeve By Jennifer Cutts
Hugs are very special, Charlie woke up with great delight boy cyclist
To be given, and received, He looked out the window to a
A comfort when you’re grieving, beautiful sight
Always worth receiving The garden was covered in a blan- Sandiacre man whose 15-year-old
When you’re feeling low, ket of white A son was left to die at a roadside
They’re an expression of caring, He ran down the stairs and shout- asked: “Was he calling out for us?”
Of consistently sharing ed to Freddie Peter Barry posed the question as a court
The love that is real, Hurry up, come on, let’s get ready heard how cyclist Adam was struck by a
The love that we feel, They put on their warm clothes car driven by a man who had boasted about
Deep down for one another, and ran out the door downing whisky and beer.
No words needed, Eager to play as the snow fell Milan Gugyel, 34, did not summon help
Being superceded some more for the boy but drove home and began an
By the encircling, They built a large snowman, big internet search on how to scrap his car and
Enveloping warmth and fat destroy evidence.
Of a hug. And found an old bucket to use as He was jailed for five years 11 months at
a hat Derby Crown Court after admitting causing
Untitled They made lots of snow balls to death by dangerous driving. He will be
throw at each other
banned from driving for five years when
By Ian Scott © 1984 They even threw one at their freed and could be deported.
In a statement read to court, Adam’s father
mother
I walked windswept sea fretted Come on in now, you are wet and said: “The feeling of loss is truly over-
cliffs, cold whelming and consumes you every minute
Among sea birds with easy flight. She called out. Now do as you’re of every day.
To watch the waves ride on the air, told “You hope to catch a glimpse of him in the
In the bright December light.-- So, they went inside and sat by mirror, smell his clothes in his wardrobe so
And I would have soared like a the fire you can for a few seconds be transported
sea bird. With rosy red cheeks, they felt back to when he was here. Every morning
I’d had the pill for reckless wings. quite tired we wake up to the horrific reality he has
I swelled with awe an ocean, They really hoped the snow would Help rewash Borough Council is encouraging gone.
Witness to those timeless things. stay Ethose involved in all things creative in “Every evening when it gets dark, we think
The lands obstinate mass turreted So they could play for one more make the borough to apply for funding to help of him lying there alone on the grass verge.
and grey. day. Erewash with their initiatives. We are in a constant state of disbelief and
The long withdrawing roar of the If you are a local arts professional, commu- anger. You think you are starring in a horror
north sea. shine nity group, individual or arts organisation movie, but it’s your life.
“The terrifying thoughts haunt you; did he
within the borough you can apply for a small
A happy new year to all our Small arts arts grant of up to £800 to help projects that know what was happening or was he uncon-
scious on impact, was he conscious on the
grants
Your Space contributors available will benefit Erewash residents. Grants can grass verge and knew what was happening
help to provide marketing for small groups,
the delivery of creative workshops, engaging and did he feel the excruciating pain he
groups with specific needs, exhibitions and must have been in, was he calling out for
more. us?
Previous successful recipients who have ben- “Those thoughts truly haunt you.
efited from the funding include: “The greatest tragedy of all is that Adam’s
• Legacy of Lace is a project with a strong life was cut short at 15. He was a beautiful
local identity here in Erewash. They went young man, loving, compassionate, caring,
on to have regional significance and are still well-rounded with a heart of gold. He
going strong with extra funding from the would do anything to help anyone.”
Arts Council. Detective constable Scott Cooper, who led
• Ilkeston Arts and Camera Club were the police enquiry, said: “Milan Gugyel did
awarded a small arts grant to help strength- not set out to kill anyone that evening but
en their online opportunities. It also enabled the simple fact is that he should not have
them to keep a core group of non-profes- been on the roads at all.
sional artists connected during difficult times, “After breaching lockdown rules, he got
offering new skills and finding new ways to behind the wheel while being, in his own
remain engaged. words, drunk and then began a phone con-
Successful recipients have used the funding versation. This combination of factors left
to build relationships between local artists him unable to see what other drivers had –
and community events, for example you Adam riding his bike.
might consider applying for a Small Arts “The decisions he had made up to that
Grant to design and build a lantern that rep- point were selfish – but the next is beyond
resents your community for Erewash Festival contempt.
of Light being held on 12th February 2022. “He left Adam on the side of the road to
The grants are available each year and appli- die. In situations like this every second
cations are being accepted up until Wednes- counts and it was 20 minutes before Adam
day 31st March 2022, though early submis- received any medical help, by which point
sions are encouraged. The funding available it was too late.
is limited and once the budget has been “Instead of calling an ambulance his only
allocated for the year the grant programme thought was how to get away with the
will be closed. crime.”

Martha by Stephen Nyberg © 2021