Reflection Bench Unveiled in Memory of a Much-Loved Volunteer
Diane′s Bench on our patio
Diane was a wonderful friend and it has been over a year since her friends and family lost her. She had gone on holiday to Egypt in 2019 with her daughter and granddaughter for a well-earned rest. Sadly, she suffered a brain haemorrhage whilst there and was placed into intensive care.
Her insurance company refused to cover the cost of bringing her home in an Air Ambulance and so her friends crowdfunded to raise over £7000. Although Diane made it back home, she sadly passed away on 20 February 2020.
Di was a lover of life and was always giving her time. Her favourite charity was the Chilterns MS Centre, where she spent more than 25 years volunteering and devoted so much of her time to fundraising for the Centre (and indeed for numerous charities).
At Halton Tennis Centre, where Di was a long-standing member, she sparkled, always bright-eyed and smiling. She had such a positive attitude and seemed to want to enjoy every moment.
She was noted at the Tennis Club for getting involved in events. Red Nose Day was a favourite and she was well prepared with the red nose and appropriate outfit. She would bring along a bag of her wonderful meringues to sell to raise some cash. Her meringues – and particularly her pavlovas – were famous.
Diane Marston
Eventually, the insurance company gave in and paid the cost to bring her home, leaving the money raised by her friends untouched. After consulting with all of the donors, it is with thanks and gratitude that so many have agreed that these proceeds be passed to the Chilterns MS Centre, as a memorial to a dear friend who inspired so many by her constant acts of kindness.
Lauren Parker, Community Fundraising Manager said “Having somewhere that the Centre’s members, staff and volunteers can come to sit, relax or catch up with each other in a beautiful setting means that her spirit will remain in a place that she believed in so passionately and we are eternally grateful to everyone for their support. This generous donation has not only provided a place to relax but will go towards running the oxygen treatment that Di was such a big part of and that makes such a difference to the daily lives of the people that receive it.”
Members and visitors to the Centre are welcome to sit and relax on the new bench, which is now located in our patio garden.