Tragic mum’s bench memorial

Emma Gilhespy was just a month short of her 29th birthday when she died at St John’s Hospice last November.

Emma, whose son Callum is five, had suffered from tongue cancer

She passed away 12 hours after marrying her partner of three years, Michael Gilhespy, in a ceremony in the hospice’s chapel.

The bench will be unveiled on Friday, June 12 at the Trimpell Club in Morecambe, where Emma used to work.

Emma’s mum Debbie said: “A friend knew someone who had a bench they were getting rid of and it was decided it would be a good idea to get it done up for us.

“We are getting a plaque put on it and it will be going against the wall outside the club.

“Emma worked there for a while and we go there quite a lot so we know people down there. We will be having a get-together for a few friends and will be cutting a ribbon.”

Emma’s illness was first diagnosed in January 2014 when she went to the doctor’s with an ulcer on her tongue.

She underwent two operations in a bid to fight the disease, including surgery to remove part of her tongue.

But despite intensive radiotherapy, the family was given the devastating news in July that the cancer was non-curative.

And when Emma was due to stay in the hospice for a couple of days in November, her family was suddenly given the devastating news that she may not survive more than 24 hours.

Emma and Michael had been due to get married in the hospice on November 28, but it was brought forward to the 20th.

The couple were married in the chapel at 11am, and Emma passed away at 11pm that night.