Tributes to 'fit and active' father who died after battle with cancer

A car which belonged to a well-known motor enthusiast has been sold at auction to raise money for the hospital wards that looked after him while he was dying of a rare cancer.
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Giles Fear passed away following a short battle with mantle cell lymphoma on May 15 after he was diagnosed with the aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma just three months earlier.

The active and popular 51-year-old, who was well known for his property maintenance work, leaves behind his partner of six years, Cristal Crooks, 40, two teenage twin daughters and parents Eleanor and Arnold Fear.

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Giles Fear with partner Cristal and, inset, his prized Fiat PandaGiles Fear with partner Cristal and, inset, his prized Fiat Panda
Giles Fear with partner Cristal and, inset, his prized Fiat Panda

While Giles was only officially diagnosed with the rare form of cancer in March, he had been suffering from lymphoma symptoms and complaining of a lump in his neck and upper stomach pain since 2018 according to his partner.

Cristal, from Retford said: "I just miss his company, we had plans to move in together and to even have a family here if that was the way life was going to be for us.

"He was always my much better half, so it is going to be a bit difficult I guess to readjust without him now.”

The final wish of the keen climber and horse rider, from Chesterfield, was for his beloved 1988 Fiat Panda to be auctioned off for the Staveley and Markham wards at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, that cared for him in his final days.

Giles Fear died from mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, on May 15.Giles Fear died from mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, on May 15.
Giles Fear died from mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, on May 15.

A total of £750 was raised through the sale at an online car forum that Giles used to frequent and Cristal has paid a visit to both the hospital wards to find out what gifts or equipment staff and patients want to spend the money on.

His parents will then deliver the items to say ‘thank you’ to the healthcare staff who accommodated visits from their son’s loved ones, with some travelling up from Dorset to say goodbye to him before he passed away.

Cristal who ran a small holding of 50 animals in Retford with Giles, originally met him in 2016 through their joint love of climbing and had plans to go on holidays together post pandemic.

The vehicle was sold and £750 was raised for the hospital wards through auction on an online car forum.The vehicle was sold and £750 was raised for the hospital wards through auction on an online car forum.
The vehicle was sold and £750 was raised for the hospital wards through auction on an online car forum.

She added: "He was very fit and active, no medical problems and he got on with anyone and everyone which kind of makes his passing even harder.

"Everybody loved Giles, he was a genuine loving guy, he was always there trying to help people.”

Cristal has since inherited six vehicles from Giles – including a 1987 BMW 520, Fiat Punto, his old work van, a campervan and Seat Lyon.

"He absolutely collected vehicles and also because he was so talented with his hands, he could fix all these vehicles as well", she continued.

The 51-year-old was an active climber.The 51-year-old was an active climber.
The 51-year-old was an active climber.

"That Fiat Panda is an original, when you look at it it doesn't look like anything as such but it was an original Fiat Panda and he absolutely loved that little car.”

A donation page has also been set up to fund two memorial benches for Giles at his favourite climbing centres in Sheffield.

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