family

SWMRtribute – by Jack Fifield The family of a three-year-old girl who was killed after a van driver smashed in to a tram have spoken out about the ‘devastating void’ her death has left. Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano, 3, was visiting Manchester with her parents on Saturday, February 22, when a van driver smashed in to a tram. The van then rebounded on to the pavement, crashing in to the tot. After being rushed to hospital, Lulu sadly passed away from her injuries. The driver of the van fled the scene, leading police on a two-day manhunt. A 36-year-old man has…

SWLSbench – by Jack Fifield & Ella Wilcox A family has been reunited with a tribute bench blown into the sea in stormy weather – after it made a 75-mile journey across the Irish Sea. The seat commemorating the life of father William Batcock crashed into the water as Storm Darragh battered the country on December 5. William, also known as Bill, passed away in 2018, 18 months after he was diagnosed with leukemia. An outdoorsman, Bill’s family put his name on a bench overlooking the sea in Anglesey, Wales – where he would regularly go on caravan holidays. His…

SWLNshop – by Filipa Gaspar A village shop has been run by the same family since 1890 surviving 130 years of high street turmoil – and the Post Office scandal. Daphne Creed, 77, is the third generation to run the Springfield Stores in Hardington Mandeville in Somerset. She took it on from her mother in 1991 who had managed it from 1936 after taking over from Mrs Creed’s gran who had run it since 1890. Daphne says taking over the shop was a ‘natural’ step – as she used to help her mum out back in the day. She said:…

SWMRtribute – by Elizabeth Hunter A family has paid tribute to their “beloved son and brother” killed in an attack. Martin Edgar, 42, was found seriously injured after in Coventry in the early hours of Tuesday 11 February. He was rushed to hospital but sadly passed away on 14 February. Martin’s family said saying: “With broken hearts, we as a family must now come to terms with the loss of our beloved son and brother, who has grown his angel wings. “One of the branches has fallen from our family tree. “Sleep peacefully, Martin. Forever in our hearts, your loving…

SWLNdog A ‘devastated family are calling for ‘tighter controls’ after their pet ran off and was killed by a train during a home boarding stay. Ellie and Simon Chudleigh, who live in Wiltshire, have been left grieving for their golden retriever, Honey, who was killed at 10-months old after running for more than 1,000 metres. She was staying with the licenced boarding home We Are Happy Dogs at the time. The pair were away in New York for Simon’s birthday – in their first holiday abroad for 14 years – and left their larger dogs Honey and Meg with the…