A BROKEN-HEARTED mum whose only child was killed following a single punch to the head, has paid an emotional tribute to him on the 10th anniversary of his tragic death.

Sharon Orr has revealed how her precious memories of her loving son have not faded despite the passing of time.

The 51-year-old, who struggled for eight years to become pregnant with her child, said: “I always think what would he look like now? Would he still be at home mithering me to death?

“He was my best friend and we always had a strong bond.

“We both had a warped sense of humour and he was a fantastic street dancer.

“Sometimes it feels like it happened a minute ago and other times like a lifetime of not hearing his voice or smelling him or shouting at him because he’s got the music on too loud.”

Priestley College student Dale Whitfield was killed by a single punch when his friend became embroiled in a confrontation with Dean Talbot-Bennett as they walked home from a night out on July 29, 2005.

Dale attempted to separate them but 19-year-old Talbot-Bennett, of Dudley Street, Longford, hit him so hard he broke his nose and knocked him unconscious to the pavement.

Dale cracked his head causing a fatal brain haemorrhage.

Dale had recently celebrated his 18th birthday and was looking forward to starting Leeds University in September to study sports science.

But the former Culcheth High School pupil was never able to fulfil his dreams and died surrounded by his mum, his dad John and stepdad Nigel ­– after 48 hours on life-support.

Talbot-Bennett served nine months of a 21-month sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter before walking out on licence.

Sharon, who previously worked as the duty manager of The Swan in Winwick, said: “I am 51 and I should not be going to my son’s grave. I should have grandchildren.

“All my friends have grandchildren but I will never know what it feels like. It kills me.

“My life is void. I just live. I live because that’s what we do. I have no legacy because of alcohol.

“You get up, you smile, you go to work, you laugh, you joke but I have not got the thing I want most in the world.

“He took that away from me that night he killed my son.”

Loved ones of Dale will celebrate his life at a private a memorial event on Friday with money to be raised for the intensive care unit at Warrington Hospital.

 

TEN years ago devoted mum Sharon Orr not only had to come to terms with the loss of her only child but she now had to face the world without her best friend by her side.

Sharon had to learn how to live her life without her teenage son following his death.

Dale Whitfield was undeniably the centre of Sharon’s universe so to mark the anniversary of his tragic death she has bravely revealed the heartbreaking moment she discovered Dale had been attacked and how her life would never be the same again.

“On the night Dale was punched I had been up all night throwing up. I knew something was wrong.

“At 3.50pm, I heard my phone and it was my ex.  I said straightaway ‘it is Dale isn’t it?’

“He told me just to come to the hospital but I knew he was dead.

“I felt so ill you would not believe it.

“I arrived at the hospital and my ex was sat in the waiting room.

“They took us into A&E and Dale was there. I looked at the nurse and I said ‘he’s dead isn’t he?’

“They told me they didn’t know but I knew.

“I don’t know why Dale let me know the way he did. That is why I was sick.

“That night I stayed with him on intensive care and I got into bed with him.

“I covered him up and I covered me up and I slept with him all night.

“I sung his favourite song as a child. I looked at him and I said ‘I know you have gone sweetie - just go – you don’t have to stay around for me’.

“I blamed myself for Dale dying for many years because it was the night he got paid.

“I worked at The Swan and I got him a job there.

“We were in the pub and he asked me when he would be paid.

 “I told him today and that I had put the money into his bank account so he decided to go out.

“Dale and I had a saying.

“I would say ‘I love you’ and he would say ‘I love you two’ and I would say ‘nahhh love you three’.

“These were the last the words we said to each other. He walked through those doors and it was the last time I saw him alive.

“I now go to visit a grave - not grandchildren like other parents my age are doing.”

For the full story pick up a copy of today's Warrington Guardian.