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The Party Must Go On

28/12/2007

AN award-winning community champion from Moston who recently lost a brave fight against cancer is to be remembered at a poignant party to mark her 70th birthday.

Yvonne Pole had talked of holding a get together to mark her special day, but in her absence, husband John and their family have invited friends, neighbours and dignitaries from the local community to celebrate her life anyway.

Yvonne, who passed away in June, posthumously won a city-wide award last month for individual Contribution to the Environment - after her single-minded dedication helped secure Moston's first place in Manchester In Bloom.

That honour included a £250 cash prize, which John has said will be put back into community planting projects.

Thanks to Yvonne and John, 73, a previously blighted area has been brightened up by bulb and tree planting activity days, which also saw Yvonne honoured as a regional champion in the Trees for Cities campaign.

Perhaps more importantly, Yvonne and fellow residents association committee members helped to rebuild community cohesion and spirit in an area that was rundown and overshadowed by a neighbouring compulsory purchase order.

John, who was married to Yvonne for 49 years, all spent in the Moston and Blackley area, explained that a few years ago Yvonne had become frustrated with the appearance of the avenue, which had deteriorated after trees lining the street were gradually cut down over time and not replaced.

He said: "She got in touch with people from Red Rose Forest, found out about grants and got all the trees planted on Worsley Avenue and Oakbank Avenue. People from Manchester Parks delivered about four or five thousand bulbs and we had a bulb planting day.

"But she still thought it was a bit bare so we had a hanging basket planting day, which was a great success. When everything was blooming it looked an absolute treasure to walk down. It was lovely. We and the community have got to carry it on now."

John, his four grown-up children Alison, Ian, Julie and Stephen, and five grandchildren, had to endure their first Christmas without Yvonne.

Ian said: "If she got something in her mind nothing could stop her. She couldn't come down Moston Lane without everyone talking to her."

John added: "She was battling with cancer and going to Christie's nearly every day but that didn't stop her. I've never seen Blackley Crematorium so full as when Yvonne died. It was full to the rafters."

A commemorative bench in recognition of Yvonne Pole is due to be installed at the Simpson Memorial Peace Garden in the New Year, as well as plans for a tree in gardens near the Ben Brierley pub on Moston Lane.