Our son had his whole life ahead of him
Jack, 20, found dead after frantic search CHARLOTTE GREEN
AHEARTBROKEN family have paid tribute following the sudden death of 20-year-old Jack Cropper.
Former Alder Grange school pupil Jack was found dead on Lodge Lane in Bacup on Monday following a search and social media appeal. His family say they are devastated by the loss of ‘kind and hard-working’ Jack, who lived in Whitewell Bottom.
His death is another tragedy to hit the Cropper family, after his cousin Morgan Cropper, 22, was found dead in a park in non-suspicious circumstances nine years ago.
Jack’s father James Cropper said he is still in shock over his son’s death.
He said: “I can’t believe it. It’s been very difficult, we are all struggling. I am absolutely heartbroken, as is his mother. I had been walking over the moors myself out looking because I was so worried about him.”
CHARLOTTE GREEN
AHEARTBROKEN family has paid tribute to a popular 20-year-old following his sudden death.
Former Alder Grange school pupil Jack Cropper, from Whitewell Bottom, was tragically found dead on Lodge Lane in Bacup on Monday, July 17.
His family say they are devastated by the loss of ‘kind and hard-working’ Jack, who had ‘his whole life ahead of him’.
His death is another tragedy to hit the Cropper family, after his cousin Morgan Cropper died aged just 22 nine years ago.
Jack’s father James Cropper said he is still in shock at what has happened. He said: “I can’t believe it. It’s been very difficult, we are all struggling. I am absolutely heartbroken, as is his mother.
“I had been walking over the moors myself out looking because I was so worried about him. I came back home and police rang me and said he’d been found. He had his whole life ahead of him.”
Jack studied construction at Accrington and Rossendale College, specialising in brickwork and was working with his father at J Cropper Stone, and living on Shaw Clough Road with his girlfriend Shauna Leyland.
He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, visiting his grandparents and nephew, fishing, as well as walking his two dogs around the Valley and was a regular at the Boot and Shoe pub in Waterfoot.
James said: “We worked together, he was my best pal. He was a big happy lad who liked everybody and was strong as a horse. I couldn’t have been more proud of him.
“He was a very popular lad, everybody loved him, wherever he walked he had friends and people wanted to be his friend.
“Jack used to call on his mum and little sister a lot to make sure they were OK and he always used to go with a smile on his face.
“He was known as Jackthe-lad, he had such a big heart.”
His grandfather, champion sheep dog trainer, Jim Cropper said: “It’s very sad.
“Jack was kind-natured, a very hard-working lad and well mannered. Nobody knew where he was until Monday morning. He’s far too young for anything to happen, he had a lifetime in front of him. Words just don’t explain it at all. It’s going to take a long time to come to terms. It’s been a shock to everybody, a great shock to our family and a great loss. It’s such an awful thing to happen.”
Alder Grange said they were “deeply saddened” at the news. Headteacher David Hampson said: “He was a popular character at school, who is well remembered at Alder Grange. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”
Accrington and Rossendale College principal Linda Mason said: “The thoughts of the college are with his family and friends and the people who knew him, it must be really difficult for them at this awful time.”
Jack leaves his mum Vicky Dunn, dad James, sisters Molly, Keira, Tazi, Leah and brothers Jake, Joe and James, and girlfriend Shauna.