Many of you reading this will know that our Mum, Christine Pratt BEM dedicated over 25 years helping to improve life for the residents of Burton and surrounding areas.

As chairperson of Blurton Farm Residents Association, Mum worked alongside many dedicated volunteers. Over the years the group organised many events such as; the Blurton Carnival, an annual Santa Parade and Christmas fair, Pensioner’s Party, Petals for Pensioners and the Youth Dream Scheme to name but a few. Many of you will remember the organised trips to the Christmas Pantomime and the coach trips to the seaside for local children and their families.

The group have an amazing track record for fund raising and campaigning; Mum was particularly proud of the development of 4 playgrounds in Blurton, Newstead, Old Blurton and Gomms Mill. She campaigned for traffic calming measures to be implemented outside Ormiston sir Stanley Matthews Academy and throughout the area.

Mum and the group also played a pivotal role in the £7.1 million redevelopment of Ingestre square which included the building of Blurton Community Hub. When interviewed by the Sentinel newspaper in 2018, talking about ‘The Hub’ mum said; "I love this place and I love the feeling I get when we do something, like the Christmas events, and everybody comes together and has a good time. Events like that really do what we set out to do - raise people's spirits."

Last year, Mum’s dedication, passion and hard work were recognised when she was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community. Those of you who knew Mum well would understand when we say she was desperate to share this recognition with the other volunteers and she was delighted when the Residents Association won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in the same year. She was so proud!

Christine, our mum, BEM sadly passed away on 27th January. We cannot put into words the heartbreak we feel but very much want something positive to come from such a sad time. Mum was desperate for the garden to be developed at the Hub. She wanted it to be a tranquil, beautiful place to be enjoyed by the community. She also wanted two sadly missed volunteers, Derek and Pam to be remembered somehow in the garden.

So, we are on a mission to raise funds for a memorial garden in honour of Mum, Derek and Pam. Please help us raise as much money as possible so we can make this happen.

Help us raise peoples spirits by raising funds for a memorial garden at Blurton Community Hub.