On 16 August 2016 Briony Daniels gave birth to Rowan Albert Richard Daniels at Southmead hospital in Bristol, and a few days later went home with her healthy baby boy.

18 days later she was rushed back to Southmead. She was kept in intensive care and fought a number of illnesses before being moved to the Bristol Royal Infirmary on 22 October.

Briony passed away on 30 October.

She battled bravely until the end against pancreatitis and a host of other illnesses, defying medical expectations along the way.

She was 24 years old and leaves baby Rowan behind, who will never know his mum.

Also, her sisters Kyla – also a member of our railway family – and Cerys, her nephew Elijah, her mother Penny and step-father Richard must go on without her.

Briony was very well thought of in Network Rail having joined us in May of last year as a Technical Clerk in the ops risk team, and she left a lasting impression on all those she crossed paths with. She was liked, loved and respected, and will be missed as a colleague, but even more so as a friend.

There is nothing to help ease the family’s grief at the moment, but I would like to call on the generosity I know we all have to support the Daniels family. This fundraising page has been set up to help the family with the costs involved in saying goodbye and with the ongoing needs of a tiny baby. I urge everyone to give whatever they can.

I have set a target, which I know we can smash. But whether you can or cannot help in that way, please take a moment to think of the family, in particular baby Rowan, at this horrible time.

Thank you.