In January 2009, Sue Preston, the wife of Oswestry Town Clerk David, was diagnosed with breast cancer and the last ten years have seen surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and many visits to Telford and Shrewsbury hospitals and the Lingen Davies Cancer Unit. Sue is one of the fortunate cancer survivors but her family, like so many others in Shropshire, Mid Wales and Telford and Wrekin will always be grateful for the care and support as received, particularly from the team at the Lingen Davies Cancer Unit at Shrewsbury hospital.
Sue, as a long-standing member of staff at Stans Superstore at St Martins, near Oswestry also acknowledges the support of the Faulk’s family and her work colleagues throughout her treatment. “I will always be grateful to Stans for everything they have done for me. It is a family business and they treat their staff like extended members of that family.”
In 2018, David was invited to be the President of the Society of Local Council Clerks. The Society is the professional body that represents around 4,000 local council clerks in England and Wales. Each year the President is permitted to nominate a Charity and fundraising takes place at various events. David, without hesitation nominated the Lingen Davies Cancer Unit as a way to support their ongoing work, to help raise awareness of their fundraising, and to say a thank you for the wonderful support that Sue continues to receive. “I am so grateful to friends and colleagues in the Society for their willingness to support this charity in such a generous manner. Being President of my professional body was a huge honour. To be able to raise funds in travelling around the country to support a cause that is so important to my family just added to the experience and memories that I take away.”
A sum of £2,000 was eventually raised, although other donations were sent direct, and a cheque was recently presented to Lizzie Coleman, the Events and Funding Officer of Lingen Davies Cancer Unit. Also attending the presentation that took place at Stans Superstore, representing the Faulks family, was Duty Manager Dave Hall.
Lizzie Coleman of Lingen Davies Cancer Unit said “It’s wonderful to have the support of David and his colleagues in the Society of Local Council Clerks and at Oswestry Town Council. Our mission is to make a positive difference to lives affected by cancer in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales, and so it’s great to see people fundraising in the North of this area. We have less than £40,000 to raise to reach £1.25 million by June, in time for our 40th Anniversary – David’s donation will go a long way towards helping us get there. We are very grateful.”
