TRIBUTES have been paid to an `inspirational' woman who was at the heart of a charity that helped to raise almost a quarter of million pounds for the George Eliot Hospital.
Kath Turner, the driving force behind the Bermuda And Stockingford Intensive Care Support (BASICS), has tragically passed away.
But the 59-year-old leaves behind a legacy that will help save the lives of thousands of patients at the George Eliot Hospital.
BASICS was the brainchild of her husband Pete, who was inspired to do something to say `thanks' to staff at the coronary care unit following the care Kath received when she needed an emergency heart valve operation.
Almost 30 years later, through charity football matches and legendary cabaret evenings, BASICS has helped to raise almost £250,000 for the unit at the Nuneaton NHS Trust.
Her heartbroken husband Pete told the News that he takes comfort out of the tireless work his wife carried out for the town she loved.
"For 21 years, she was the main focus of BASICS, we reached almost a quarter of a million pound for the hospital," he said.
"She touched so many lives in the town, she had such a great personality and such a huge smile, she touched everyone she met. She was a Camp Hill gal and loved Nuneaton and its folk."
Despite having to undergo three open heart surgeries, which led to her having a pace-maker fitted, Kath had a steely determination to help others.
"She was an inspiration," Pete added. So much so, that chiefs at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire asked her to help fellow coronary care patients awaiting surgery.
"She went around the unit there and spoke to people and she would light up their faces, she gave them so much confidence and reassurance," the Redwood Croft resident said.
"Everyone said she had an aura about her, she loved life that much after what she had been through."
This special `aura' was extended to everyone she met, according to Pete, who said that even though they did not have children of their own, she had a way with them: "She was just magic with kids," she said.
"She used to say to me `you don't have to have kids to appreciate them' and the kids loved her."
The couple first met when they worked at Finns, the former shoe company in Avenue Road, and were due to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next year: "We were married for 39 years. She was great company, to me, I didn't need anyone else, we just bounced off each other," he said.
"When we were courting as teenagers, everyone said it wouldn't last because we argued every weekend, she was a Taurus and I am a Sagittarian but we were everything to each other."
Her funeral is being held this Friday at St Mary's Abbey Church in Manor Court Road, the place where the couple were married: "It was the best day of our lives," he said.
He has been inundated with phonecalls and flowers since she passed away on Thursday night: "People just don't know what to say, they were even stood outside the coronary care unit crying," he said.
Mr Turner's grief is still raw at the moment, but he hopes to continue the BASICS charity:" That would have been her wishes,"he said.
"She never ever wanted to let anyone down."
A stickler for smartness and attention to detail, the legendary BASICS cabaret evenings were down to her: "The room was like the Albert Hall when she had finished, every table had a candle on it, everyone had a place to sit," he said.
"They were always fantastic nights out and I hope that they continue to be."
Ironically, the last piece of equipment that BASICS bought was for the intensive care unit at the local hospital, where she sadly died after suffering a bleed on her brain.
But her funeral will not be a sad occasion according to Mr Turner: "I will just be so proud of her, for what she has done for the town," he said.
"Everything is going to be what Kath wanted, we had spoke about it."
Hundreds of mourners are expected to pay their respects at the funeral and among them will be Jean Whittaker, MBE, charitable funds co-ordinator at the hospital.
She worked closely with Kath over the past 29 years: "I am devastated and I should think that the whole of Nuneaton is," Mrs Whittaker said.
"She was such a caring, wonderful woman, she was remarkable, she put everyone before herself. On behalf of all of the directors and the chief executive at the George Eliot Hospital, I would like to say that this news is a tremendous loss to the community.
"She worked so hard for the coronary care unit at the hospital, she made sure that the patients had the latest technology and she was a legend when it came down to sorting out deals with the companies that we purchased the equipment from, she always strived to get the best.
"Our condolences go to Peter, they were Mr and Mrs Charity. She will be a loss to me too, she was so supportive, and was always there to help out."
The funeral will be held at 3pm on Friday and will be followed by a family interment at the Heart of England Crematorium, but Mr Turner is inviting people to a celebration of her life at the Pavilion in Stockingford afterwards.
A request has been made for family and close friends flowers only, although donations can be made to BASICS in Kath's honour.
