Family honouring Wolverhampton charity hero after death aged 104

Mary Taylor, from Horseley Fields in Wolverhampton, helped raise more than £1 million for the city's Cancer Research branch – which she set up.

And now her family are set to raise money for Compton Care where she received care before she died on March 30, three months before her 105th birthday.

Jenni Smith, her granddaughter, is set to run 105 miles with her best friend Leanne – with her husband Will cycling the distance for the Wolverhampton-based hospice.

She said: "My nan has always been so incredibly strong, and we have always been extremely close. She had the most caring nature and beautiful spirit and always left a huge impression wherever she went and would put the welfare of others before herself. She was so loved by us all and her joy for life was infectious.

"When she was transferred to Compton, I doubted whether there would be anyone still working there when she was a volunteer, so I was astonished when a nurse, Adrian, entered the room and informed me that they had worked together before and had had so much fun together during their shifts.

"It was so emotional for me to hear that and to be amongst people who knew and loved her. It made me incredibly proud of her as I always have been."

Coronavirus restrictions meant Mary only had Jenni visiting – with staff from the hospice offering her support during the difficult period.

"I find words inadequate to express the depth of gratitude I feel towards all the staff at Compton, not just for me and my wonderful nan but for everyone who receives their care and support at what, for many, is at the most difficult time," she added.

"With everything going on at that time, the fact Mary came back to Compton and that I was able to spend every second with her in her last few days was more than just good fortune, I believe the Lord led a path for us and ensured that the end of her long, full and extraordinary life would come to its final close in a way that was fitting to the life she had led."

Mary, one of seven children, was the last remaining daughter of William and Sarah Gough of the well-known William Gough and Sons Limited, construction specialists in the city.

She worked in various posts for Manders and Ductile Steel, before marrying her husband John in 1939 who enlisted in the army due to the Second World War.

Mary worked at Banks's Brewery and managed night-shifts at New Cross Hospital as a Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment, tending to injured soldiers from Poland and Holland.

She had a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1950 and set up the Wolverhampton branch of Cancer Research in 1958 after her brother died from cancer.

In the 1960s and 1970s she worked at the Municipal Grammar School and started volunteering at West Park Hospital in 1980.

Later she joined Compton Care, then Compton Hospice, where she volunteered for 25 years. Mary even opened up her home to one of Compton's doctors, Dr Ben Ritzenthaler, in the early 90s following the death of her husband.

Leanne, who was referred to by Mary as her adopted granddaughter, will take on the challenge from her home in Yorkshire – with Jenni being in Wolverhampton – to mark Mary's 105th birthday on June 28.

The two will track their progress through the Stava app – with Will, having taken part in various cycling events, tracking his progress in a bid to reach their £1,050 target.

Jenni added: "I'm sure my nan would have been very proud as we move forward to raise money to support this fantastic cause that was so dear to her heart.

"We felt it very fitting to use her 105 fabulous years to set our milestones, both physically and financially."

To keep up to date with Jenni’s progress and to donate to her fundraiser visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jennifer-smith98