When Christopher Hutchon was killed after a learner driver lost control of his car and skidded off a north-east road, his family were left heartbroken.
The 37-year-old was due to become a parent for the first time in just a few weeks with wife, Kirstine, and he had big plans to renovate their farmhouse near Ballater.
Instead, his ambition to create a loving family home was never fulfilled, and his daughter, Annabelle, will grow up never knowing her father who “had everything to live for”.
His tragic death on January 18 on the snow-covered A93 near Ballater sent shockwaves through the town where he was popular and respected, while the Hutchon family was left picking up the pieces of the horrendous accident.
A year on, they say they are taking what good they can from Christopher’s untimely death, and doing everything possible to ensure his legacy lives on.
So far, his wife and friends in the north-east have raised thousands of pounds in his name to make improvements to local emergency medical care.
The fundraising campaign has now raised more than £14,000 to purchase defibrillators for the Ballater area, and plans are currently underway to train people to use them.
Christopher’s father, David, has also revealed how the family has donated a piece of lifesaving equipment to the Darlington Memorial Hospital, in the town where his son grew up.
“It’s been such a horrible time for us all,” said David, who moved to England from Edinburgh when Christopher was four.
“But we have to try and carry on and do what good we can.”
The Hutchon family visited the hospital earlier this month, where David – a retired consultant obstetrician who is considered a world expert in the question of cord clamping at birth – used to work.
Following retirement, the medic carried out extensive research into a mobile resuscitation trolley – now known as Lifestart Units – which would enable the treatment of newborn babies while they are still attached to their mother via the umbilical cord.
With his wife, Rosemary, Kirstine and Annabelle – who travelled from the north-east to be there – and many of their family and friends, they presented the hospital with its first unit as “a gift” in memory of Christopher.
“There’s a memorial in his name in Ballater, but we felt there was nothing down here and it’s such a long way away,” said his father.
“That’s why we decided that we would make this donation to the hospital.
“It needs the equipment and it’s an appropriate memorial to him. We know Chris would be thrilled.”
Kirstene gave birth to the couple’s baby girl, Annabelle, two months after her husband died. She has been given the second name Chris in his memory.
David said: “As she gets bigger, you can begin to see some of her dad’s features in her face.”
Background: Christopher Hutchon
Christopher was described as a “much-loved” husband, son, brother, uncle and friend to many, and as someone who had a “great zest for life”.
The IT consultant met Kirstine, originally from Ballater, 10 years before and they had lived at Bridge of Gairn Farm for the last three years of his life. They married at the farm in September 2013.
Christopher had studied at St Andrews University between 1996 and 2000, and enjoyed travelling and snowboarding in Morzine in the French Alps.
In July 2014, the couple set up a riding school at the farm.
On the day of the accident, Christopher had been clearing snow from the road outside their house.
The grey Skoda Fabia that hit him was being driven by a supervised learner driver with Dee Valley Driving School, Braemar.
It is understood it was being driven by a 17-year-old at the time.
Mr Hutchon was treated at the scene by a passing doctor but died outside his home.
It has since emerged that the Crown Office has decided to close the case and ruled that no charges will be brought.
