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Centre could be re-named after tragic blaze mum

Laura Sharpe
7/12/2006

AN ACCRINGTON community centre could be renamed in memory of Caneze Riaz, the popular mother-of-five who died in a blaze at her family home last month.

Board members at Scaitcliffe Community Centre on Hannah Street, where she worked, are considering renaming it the Caneze Riaz Community Centre in memory of her and her family.

Caneze, 39, and her four-daughters Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 15, Alicia, 10, and Hannah, three, were killed in the fire which ripped through their home in Tremellen Street, Accrington.

Her husband Mohammed Riaz, 49, who is suspected of deliberately starting the fire, was pulled from the house but died three days later.

Eldest son Adam, 17, the only surviving member of the family, is seriously ill with leukaemia and is being treated at Manchester's Christie Hospital.

Caneze was a well-known community worker at the New Era complex and also worked for the Hyndburn Cultural Association based at the Scaitcliffe Community Centre.

Tributes which poured in following the tragedy called Caneze a "tireless worker" who had done so much for young people and women and had been "a beacon for building good relations between people of different backgrounds."

Vice-chairman of directors at the Scaitcliffe centre, Mohammed Yaseen, said: "Munsif Dad, the centre manager, who was a close friend of Caneze, came up with the idea but it will have to be decided by the 12 or so board members.

"I back the idea because of the great work she did. We all really miss her in terms of her companionship and friendship as well as for her work.

"Caneze would work with anybody - women, young people, old people. She was very much an achiever and was involved in many different projects."

The board will consider the idea at a meeting in January when it will be decided whether the rename the whole building or possibly just a specific part of it.