‘Devoted’ Grandfather, 66, Dies in Hospital After He Was Punched Outside of a Pub Days Before Christmas

A beloved father and grandfather has died after being assaulted outside a pub in an English village, according to police and his family.

David “Dave” Darke died on Saturday, Dec. 27 — nearly a week after he was punched outside The Crown Inn in Appleby Magna — Leicestershire Police said. The assault happened just before 9:45 p.m. local time on Dec. 21, and Darke suffered a serious head injury.

Police said Darke, 66, died at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham on Dec. 27.

In a statement released through Leicestershire Police the following day, Darke’s family remembered him as a devoted and deeply loved presence in their lives.

“Dave was a deeply loved father to three daughters and a proud grandfather to three boys,” the family said. “He was a much-loved brother and a dear friend. Dave will live on forever in our hearts, minds and souls.”

They also described him as “a strong, active, intelligent and kind person who was a friend to all,” adding that he had a deep passion for life, the outdoors, nature and walking. “His life was tragically cut short,” the statement continued, “and he’s now reunited with his loving, caring parents. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.”

Police said the investigation into the Dec. 21 assault remains ongoing.

A 36-year-old man was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and later released on bail, according to Leicestershire Police. Authorities said he was re-arrested on suspicion of murder on Dec. 27 and remains in custody.

Detective Inspector Kevin Hames of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, which is leading the investigation, said detectives have already identified several witnesses and reviewed CCTV footage from the area — and that those efforts are continuing.

“The initial investigation resulted in us identifying several witnesses and examining CCTV from the area,” Hames said. “Those enquiries will continue, and the suspect will be re-interviewed by detectives.”

He also urged anyone who was in the Church Street area on Sunday evening and has not yet spoken with police to contact investigators, noting that Darke’s family is being supported by specialist officers as they navigate what he described as an extremely difficult time.

Residents told Leicestershire Live the incident felt especially shocking in what they described as a quiet village.

Paul Sambrook, who has lived in Appleby Magna for five years, called it “totally out of the blue,” adding, “You never feel any atmosphere at all in either of the pubs in the village. It’s a friendly, cordial drinking establishment.”

Millie Newall, who lives near the pub, described the assault as “quite scary.” “It’s a quiet village and it’s strange for something like this to happen here,” she said.

Another resident, who chose to remain anonymous, echoed the sentiment: “I’ve been living here for four years, and it’s a nice village. And The Crown is a nice pub. It’s just not a village where you get any trouble at all. It’s very sad.”