Alan Tavener died before he could thank the charity which helped him through his heart surgery. But his widow Kim was determined to fulfil his wish.
Alan Tavener died before he could thank the charity which helped him through his heart surgery. But his widow Kim was determined to fulfil his wish.
Mr Tavener, 64, from Kinson, died on November 6, just days before he was due to present a bench and cheque to Wessex Heartbeat in Southampton.
His widow Kim travelled to the charity’s base in Tremona Road, Southampton and presented the gift in her husband’s honour.
She explained: “Alan had a quadruple heart bypass at Southampton General Hospital in December 2015.
“During his stay in hospital I was able to stay at Heartbeat House, a home for home for the families of patients, run by the charity Wessex Heartbeat.
“After he recovered Alan and his fellow members of Moordown Bowls Club, raised over £830 for Wessex Heartbeat and planned to present a bench and cheque to the charity.
“Sadly Alan died just days before the presentation, but I knew he would have wanted it to go ahead and so I made myself go, just for him.”
Since 1992 Wessex Heartbeat has raised over £11million for the Wessex Cardiac Unit, funding projects including the Young Adult Cardiac Centre and a £1 million refurbishment of the children’s ward.
It operates Heartbeat House to enable the families of heart patients to stay close to their loved ones while they undergo treatment.
Kim continued: “Heartbeat House was a godsend to us while Alan was in hospital, enabling me to stay just a few minutes’ walk from him throughout.
“It really is a wonderful place and Alan really wanted to do something to show our appreciation.
“So as vice president of Moordown Bowls Club he nominated Wessex Heartbeat as the club’s charity of the year for 2016 and organised a charity day, fun bowls, and a raffle and raised £830.”
Stewarts Garden Centre delivered Alan’s bench to Heartbeat House free of charge and Kim and Alan’s sister Lesley Barwell, went to present it.
Kim said: “It was incredibly emotional, but I know Alan would have been over the moon to have seen it there, with its lovely plaque.
“Knowing it will be used by other relatives whose loved ones are receiving vital treatment at the cardiac centre is a very comforting and a fitting memorial to him.”
John Munro, chief executive of Wessex Heartbeat, said: “We were all deeply saddened to hear of Alan’s death. He was clearly a very generous and much loved man.
“His gift will provide our guests with a welcome place to sit, in a sunny, welcoming part of the garden for many years to come.”
Alan Tavener was elected president of Moordown Bowling Club just weeks before he died.
Kim is continuing as Secretary for the club.
Heartbeat House celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2016.
Wessex Heartbeat celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017 and is looking for new volunteers, supporters and fundraisers.
Please contact Ken Wilde on: 023 8070 6095 email: ken@hearbeat.org.uk
or visit: www.heartbeat.co.uk/
Information for editors
Media information, please contact Debbie Granville, Deep South Media, tel: 01202 534487 or email: debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Wessex Heartbeat-funded projects to date have included the Young Adult Cardiac Centre, a £1 million refurbishment of the children’s ward, the building of a state-of-the-art education and conference centre and providing a paediatric intensive care ambulance and Babypod.
