Hospital Courtyard Transformed - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Hospital Courtyard Transformed – A HEARTFELT tribute to a beloved wife and mother has blossomed into a serene garden space at Southend Hospital, offering solace to patients, families and staff.

Hospital Courtyard Transformed - A HEARTFELT tribute to a beloved wife and mother has blossomed into a serene garden space at Southend Hospital, offering solace to patients, families and staff.

A HEARTFELT tribute to a beloved wife and mother has blossomed into a serene garden space at Southend Hospital, offering solace to patients, families and staff.

When Sue Marney passed away on 4 December 2023, at the age of 59, her family sought a meaningful way to honour her love for life and gardening.

Moved by the care Mrs Marney received during her final days on Elizabeth Loury ward, her husband Ron and their five children wanted to give something back and decided to transform the ward’s courtyard into a vibrant garden oasis.

With the support of Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, the Marney family embarked on the project, designing a space that now features four palm trees, colourful planters and flowerbeds, festoon lights and a striking hand sculpture – each element chosen to reflect the warmth and beauty Mrs Marney brought to the lives of those around her.

The garden was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the family and friends. The event was a celebration of her life and legacy and a thank you to the ward that supported her so compassionately in her final days.

Mr Marney said: “As a family, we are forever grateful to the ward for the care and support they provided to Sue, and to us. Sue loved being outdoors and among her plants. It means the world to us to create something that gives joy to others while keeping her memory alive.

Lucy Thomas-Clayton, Director of Charities and Voluntary Services at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, added: “This beautiful garden is a true gift to the ward and to everyone who will spend time here.

“We’re so grateful to the Marney family for their generosity, which will make a huge difference in creating a special space away from the clinical environment of the ward for our patients and families.”

Picture: New look of the courtyard; Ron Marney cutting the ribbon, with Dr Krishnaswamy Madhavan, Medical Director for the Essex Cancer Centre.

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