THE parents of CJD victim Adrian Hodgkinson were today laying a red rose at Harrogate Crematorium on the first anniversary of his death.

Adrian, thought to be North Yorkshire's first victim of a new form of CJD probably caused by BSE in cattle, was always giving red roses to his girlfriend, who attends university in Lancashire.

His mother Betty, of Albany Road, Harrogate, said: "It's been a very hard year for all of us...and we all just hope we can face the next year with a little less apprehension."

She and her husband Barry have been heartened by the Government's announcement of a full judicial inquiry into the handling of the BSE crisis. "We and all the families fought hard for the inquiry," she said, thanking the Evening Press for focusing people's attention on the issue.

She revealed that she will give Adrian's watch to her husband, Barry, today after finally getting it mended. "Adrian always had to have a go at everything and when he overwound his watch, he decided he'd have a go, armed with a needle and small screwdriver.

"Needless to say it needed major repairs - obviously watch-repairing wasn't his forte! We have many happy memories of Adrian and are now just beginning to laugh at some of his antics."

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