A trophy has been commissioned at a school in honour of a former member of staff.

Denise Ward, of Warwick Avenue, Church, worked at Sacred Heart primary school for 25 years as a nursery nurse and non-teaching assistant.

She died on December 15, 2012 after a short illness with cancer aged 56.

Following her death, a committee called ‘Denise’s Do’s’ was set up by her husband John and friends to raise money for charity in her memory.

They have now commissioned the annual Denise Ward Memorial Shield at the school for a child who has achieved ‘against all odds’ – the motto on the shield.

John said: “We have been raising money for Cancer Research UK and local children’s charities and we felt that it would be a fitting tribute to name a trophy in her memory.”

The first recipient of the shield was year six pupil Lucy Hamer.

Lucina Hindle, a close friend and colleague of Denise, presented Lucy with the shield at the school’s prize-giving evening on Wednesday, July 16.

Denise’s Do’s has previously held discos, a dinner dance and stalls to raise money for charity.