By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 16:17, Friday, 05 October 2012

A mobile phone company has backed a woman’s campaign to ban glass bottles from late-night venues.

Phil Sherriff

Jane Sherriff’s husband Phil died after being stabbed in the neck with a bottle during a corporate event at a London nightclub in April.

The dad-of-two is known in Cumbria area having worked at The Link mobile phone shop in Carlisle until 2002.

The family lived at Edenhall, near Penrith, until Phil’s work in the mobile industry prompted a move to Lancashire.

His widow Jane, who was a country park ranger at Talkin Tarn, near Brampton, as well as working for Defra in Cumbria during foot and mouth, is pushing forward the Bottle Stop campaign, calling for glass bottles to be banned from all late-night city centre pubs and clubs.

Having already received the backing of more than 42,000 Facebook users, mobile phone network Three UK – Phil’s former employer – has added its weight to the campaign.

Employees at the company are supporting Jane in her drive to get 100,000 people to sign a petition, forcing a debate on the issue in parliament.

Originally launched by the family of club doorman Blake Golding, who was permanently scarred in a glassing attack in Milton Keynes in 2004, support has swelled following Jane’s campaign launch and now boasts more than 60,000 signatures.

In memory of Phil, and to support Jane’s cause, Three UK’s staff also made the decision to only serve drinks in plastic cups at the after-party of their annual sales conference in Liverpool last month.

More than 700 employees attended the event with each person adding their signature to the petition.

Amanda Lambert, Three UK’s sales director, said: “By supporting the Bottle Stop campaign we hope that other families won’t have to go through the same tragedy as Jane and her children.

“Phil had a lot of good friends here at Three UK and the team’s ability to help drive awareness and support Jane’s campaign has meant a lot to everyone.

“We hope that our involvement with the initiative will encourage other companies to take similar action.”

Jane, 35, said there is still a long road ahead but she has been buoyed by the level of support she has received from across Cumbria and beyond.

“The support locally has been amazing, and invaluable. With hundreds of local supporters adding their voices to our cause, I know we can make this happen,” she said.

“We are determined to ban glasses and glass bottles from late night venues in order to make sure no other families have to go through the pain we have.”

She urged more people to sign the petition or like the Facebook page. For details visit www.bottlestop.org.uk.

First published at 13:56, Friday, 05 October 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk