PEOPLE in two villages are coming to terms with the aftermath of motorcycle accidents which claimed the life of one man and left another fighting for his life in Derriford Hospital. This week Devon and Cornwall's senior police motorcycle patrol officer praised the families of the two men for allowing their experiences to be used to highlight the growing toll of riders on the roads of Devon and Cornwall. It was revealed that the latest victim, 34-year-old Glen Northcott from Lanreath, is cousin to naval chief petty officer Wayne 'Ned' Kelley, 40, from Pelynt who died a week earlier after his 650cc CCM motorcycle was in collision with a car on the notorious 'Torpoint Twisties' near Antony. Mr Northcott is in a stable but critical condition at Derriford where he was taken on Sunday after his 1000cc Honda Fireblade was in collison with a Toyota Corolla at Trelawne Cross, Pelynt, on the B3359. The driver of the car, also a local man, is being treated for spinal injuries Insp Robin Derges, head of the Devon and Cornwall police motorcycle wing and president of the Cornwall branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists, said the families of the two men had been left 'stunned' by the tragedies but wanted their experiences to be an example to other bikers. He urged motorcyclists to give themselves as much margin for safety as possible. 'Enough is enough – too many motorcyclists have died,' he said, pointing out that in the Plymouth area alone nine have died this year, with the figures for Cornwall causing just as much concern.

Training 'Get some additional training, but most importantly get your mind right. Don't let it be your door we knock on to give that message everyone dreads,' said Insp Derges. He stressed there was no suggestion that 'Ned' Kelley, who leaves a nine-year-old son, was anything other than a normal, rational, loving and caring man or that he was in any way a bad rider. 'But his young life has been snuffed out, leaving nothing but sadness and grief,' said the Inspector, adding that he was grateful to Mr Kelley's family for helping to highlight the risks facing motorcyclists And he expressed similar sentiments in respect of Mr Northcott, whose family had also allowed his name to be used to further the campaign. 'He is a real fighter and a credit to his family, and staff at Derriford have performed routine miracles on his behalf,' he said. On Wednesday evening friends of the two men gathered in Pelynt Social Club in memory of Mr Kelley and to express their hopes for the recovery of Mr Northcott.