The fashion and cosmetics show at the Hotel Nelson to mark one year since retired secretary Gay Boswell died of cancer. Photo: Angela Sharpe

SAM WILLIAMS
07 March 2008 13:20

A fashion show held in memory of a Norfolk woman who lost her battle with breast cancer a year ago raised more than £1,500 for charity.

The event, in aid of the Norfolk and Waveney Big C cancer charity, marked a year since the death of retired secretary Gay Boswell, from Forncett St Peter, who died aged 55 on March 6 last year, two weeks before what would have been her and her husband Michael Boswell’s 30th wedding anniversary.

The show was organised as a tribute to Gay by her friend of 20 years Denise Harris, 52, who works in the fashion department at Jarrold, and Denise’s daughter Claire, 30, manager at the Nelson hotel, with models and clothes supplied by design chains with lines at the department store.

Michael Boswell, 54, who works part time at BBC Radio Norfolk, compered the evening with DJs Chrissy Jackson and Roy Waller.

The cash was raised through ticket sales at the sell-out 120-seat show and a raffle.

Mrs Harris, who lives in Little Melton with husband David, 57, said: “We wanted to do something to mark a year since we lost Gay, and she would have loved it.

“She loved clothes and fashion and we wanted to do something constructive in her memory.

“The show was absolutely fantastic, we really didn’t think we would raise more than £1,000.”

Both husband and wife were diagnosed with cancer in 1995, Gay with breast cancer and Michael with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, but both survived, before Gay was re-diagnosed with the disease in 2005.

Mr Boswell said: “Gay was just a wonderful person, she was quite a private person but she was loved by everyone who came in touch with her, whether colleagues, friends and relations.

“She was a special girl, which was shown by the fashion show selling out, and she had 200 people at her funeral. For someone so private she was well loved.”

The money will go to the Big C, which supported Gay and Michael, to help fund cancer care and support in the county.

Sharon Hulbert, marketing and communications manager at the Big C, added: “It was a brilliant night, and there was a lot of fun and laughter. The atmosphere was fantastic and it was great to raise so much money.”

Are you planning a charity event in memory of a friend or relative? Call Sam Williams on 01603 772447 or e-mail sam.williams@archant.co.uk