Giving hope to others

Scott Fletcher was just 19 when he was involved in a car accident in Bognor on December 23, 1990.

A star member of Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society, Scott was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester and put on a life-support machine, but the head injuries he suffered were so massive there was no chance of him surviving.

The news of the accident was broken to Mrs Down, 57, by police officers who arrived at her home, which was in Littlehampton at the time, at around 11pm.

Mrs Down, who owns Marian Down funeral directors in Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, and her family were taken to the hospital to see Scott and were told by doctors there was no chance of him recovering.

"His injuries were to the back of his head so his face looked perfect. He looked like he was asleep."

No regrets

It was Mrs Down who approached doctors and said she would like to donate Scott's organs.

"I was in such shock by what was happening, but I have never regretted the decision for one minute.

"I knew it was the right thing to do.

"I had lost one of the dearest things to me, my first-born child, but I knew I had to give somebody else the hope of life.

"What was the point in burying or cremating healthy organs?

"I wheeled him to the operating theatre. Scott died over Christmas and fortunately, because of the work I do, I was able to collect him from hospital in our ambulance."

Both of Scott's kidneys were donated '“ one to a 42-year-old father-of-two from Portsmouth, whose wife wrote to Mrs Down afterwards, and one to somebody in Newcastle. His corneas were also donated.

In those days, the families were never really kept informed of the organ recipients' progress.

Comfort for family

"It would have been a great comfort to know how they were doing," said Mrs Down.

"We had given people hope, but also hope to their family and friends.

"I did it for quite selfish reasons as well, because I knew part of Scott was living on."

Scott loved performing with the Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society. He enjoyed rugby and cricket and was drummer in a band called December Revolution.

Mrs Down, who is on the NHS organ donor register, was doubtful whether Gordon Brown's "opting out" plans would work.

Click here to read why Victoria Webb's donated their daughter's organs.