Newbury pub manager comes to the aid of fall woman

The 73-year-old woman, from Pangbourne, was on her way to join her husband and 10-year-old grandson at the Vue cinema in the Kennet Shopping centre to see Paddington when she fell outside Bartholomew Street pub The Newbury.
The woman broke her hip in the fall, and has since undergone an emergency hip replacement.
Her husband this week moved to publicly thank pub manager Simon Abbott for his quick response.
Mr Abbott immediately called for an ambulance and wrapped the woman in blankets to keep her warm in the freezing weather, wearing only a short-sleeved shirt himself – and all the while managing the busy weekend demands of his customers.
“My wife and I suggested that he return indoors out of the wind, but undaunted he stayed with us,” said the husband.
“It was such a traumatic situation. My wife is so active as an ex-nurse. She was a parachute jumper.
“To us, this was serious, and then in comes Simon and he took charge and he was incredible. We will be eternally grateful to that young man.
“We were so pleased with the paramedics, Royal Berkshire Hospital staff, in the operating theatre and the physio afterwards. On Monday she walked up and down the ward 20 times. It’s a huge success story.
“Thank you, Simon, for preventing a serious situation becoming a tragedy. She’s well worth it. She’s a smashing lady, she’s been such a carer all her life.”
Mr Abbott said following the incident: “My main concern was to make sure she was OK.
“I wanted to make sure she was all right because it was a cold day and she was clearly cold and distraught.”
The woman was due to return home yesterday, and the couple said they look forward to visiting The Newbury for a meal and meeting Mr Abbott properly once she has recovered.