The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The family of a 51-year-old fun-loving postman who died on the holiday of a lifetime in Italy have thanked the community for their support.
Less than 24 hours after Clive Chapman, of Fern Drive in Spalding, was dancing to ABBA in a disco he was placed in an induced coma.
The father of three was in Sorrento with youngest daughter Rebecca (14) and wife Diane, celebrating the couple’s 24th wedding anniversary on July 29.
They flew out on July 22 for their first trip to Italy where Diane’s family was originally from.
Following a swim on Thursday, July 25 he was taken to hospital feeling short of breath.
Later that day Clive was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs with a lack of oxygen leading to a damaged heart.
He was placed in the coma in an attempt to save him but also developed sepsis and died on Monday, August 5.
Diane, who is a teaching assistant at Whaplode Primary School, said: “You don’t think you go on holiday and one of you doesn’t come back.
“The night before he was put in the coma he was trying to get me to dance to ABBA on the dance floor.
“Rebecca was being a typical teenager and saying ‘aww you’re being embarrassing’ and Clive was just having a really good time dad dancing.
“To go from someone being so happy and active to what happened the next day is heart-breaking.”
Back home, an appeal to help Clive’s other children Rachel (21) and James (17) afford flights was launched and raised over £2,000 via a JustGiving.
Rachel was able to get a free flight out with fiancée Harry Issitt thanks to TUI while Clive’s lifelong friend and best man at his wedding Stephen Lewis also flew out with wife Kirsty to be with him.
The money raised will instead be going towards the funeral being arranged by Mark Forth Funeral Directors.
The family returned to the country on Friday, August 9 albeit without Clive’s body after they were told the plane due to carry him was “too full”.
He was brought back to the UK three days later.
Diane said: “Everybody in the Italian hospitals was fantastic and the TUI reps were brilliant too, taking me to the hospital every day and we were so thankful for the young girl who interpreted for us.
“The support we’ve had from everyone has been overwhelming. I’ll be forever grateful for that support that’s helping us get through this.”
Alongside his family, Clive’s passions were cars and music.
He was a member of the Celica-Club and owned several classic cars he liked to take to shows.
It’s a passion mechanics-studying son James has taken on alongside Clive’s love for music especially bands such as Pearl Jam, The Specials, The Clash and Oasis.
For his final journey Clive has been dressed wearing shorts and a Sex Pistols t-shirt in the coffin for the celebration of his life.
“He hated suits and I didn’t think I’d get away with playing a Sex Pistols song in church,” added Diane. “As a postie he wore shorts in every weather. He worked in Spalding for a number of years but most recently has been in the Sutton St James and Sutton St Edmund area.
“Outside of work Clive loved a drink and he was always happy and laughing.
“You couldn’t go anywhere without people asking him about his cars. That was his passion and he carried a wallet around with him with pictures of cars he owned.”
James and Rebecca described Clive as a “role model” and a “great dad”.
“He was kind, loving and would always be there for you,” added Rachel.
