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Suffolk hotelier seriously injured in crash




Craig Jarvis
Craig Jarvis

A well-known hotelier, who has generated around half a million pounds for charity, has been seriously injured in a crash in Sicklesmere.

Craig Jarvis suffered internal bleeding, a shattered pelvis and possible spinal injuries when the motorbike he was riding was involved in a collision with a Range Rover on the A134 Sicklesmere Road, at the junction of Rushbrooke Lane, on Friday afternoon.

Craig Jarvis, director of Ravenwood Children's Trust ENGANL00120121206094702
Craig Jarvis, director of Ravenwood Children's Trust ENGANL00120121206094702

His recovery is expected to be a slow process but he is determined to regain his fitness in time to take part in three fund-raising challenges he has lined up for next year, starting with April’s London Marathon.

The father-of-two, who owns Ravenwood Hall Hotel, in Rougham, and The Black Lion, in Long Melford, was due to take part in the Distinguished Gentleman’s bike ride in London last Sunday in aid of prostate cancer research.

Rosalyn Smith, a spokeswoman for Ravenwood Hall, said: “He can move his toes but we still don’t know what that will mean for his recovery. It’s all been a bit of a shock and a bit of a whirlwind.”

His wife Julie has been by his bedside as much as possible at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Mr Jarvis, who turns 57 today, was initially taken by land ambulance to West Suffolk Hospital following the incident at about 4.30pm.

He has had surgery to fit a metal plate in his pelvis and is being monitored for internal bleeding and spinal injuries.

Ms Smith said: “He’s extremely determined to get himself back to fitness, so we’ll see how that goes. I don’t know if he’s being optimistic or not, we may be looking at 2018, but I hope not - fingers crossed.”

As well as the London Marathon, next year Mr Jarvis is due to compete in the Mongol Derby, in Mongolia, in August – which is billed as the longest and toughest horse race in the world – and a charity motorcycle rally in India in October.

He is also keen to do as much as possible to support Thurston air rifle victim Ben Wragge’s family in their efforts to get a skatepark built in Ben’s memory.

Meanwhile, it is business as usual at Ravenwood Hall, which is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The venue will host a wedding fair, as planned, on October 9 and is organising a masked Valentine’s ball for February 11.

Proceeds from the ball will go towards the Thurston skatepark project and tickets for it will go on sale in January.

Police have charged a 56-year-old woman from Colchester with drink-driving following Friday’s incident. She is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on October 18.

To find out more about Mr Jarvis read our previous interview with him