Five hundred and seventy five pound was collected from family and friends. The family would like to thank everybody for their generosity and all the cards they received, some to Ellen's daughter Lynne in Australia.

Family was very important to Ellen: she had three daughters, Denese, Yvonne and Lynne and two sons, Mark and Neil. Between them they gave Ellen 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren but she still found time when she retired from the Devonshire Hospital to become a volunteer at the then Cancer Research Campaign shop, which, when it merged with the Imperial Cancer shop, became Cancer Research UK.

She gave two days every week and was one of the first volunteers at the shop when it opened in 1999 and she was determined to be back at the shop next year for the 10 year celebration.

Sadly, Ellen lost her fight against cancer on June 18 this year. She is missed by all who knew her as she was a very special lady with a heart to match.