A former Blackpool hotelier whose charity work has changed the lives of hundreds of Kenyan children died early last week.
Sue Hayward, founder of Children of Watamu charity, died in a hospital in Mombasa after a sudden heart attack.
She and her husband, Dave, who for many years ran the Castlemere Hotel on Shaftesbury Avenue, moved to Kenya in 2010.
It was there that Sue was able to achieve her long held vision of opening a children's home, the Happy House, in the coastal town of Watamu.
Since opening 11 years ago, the Happy House has become home to hundreds of children in need where Sue is known as Mama Sue.
For some, it’s become a permanent home and others, a safe space for them on a temporary basis whilst their family has been in crisis.
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While visiting Watamu in Kenya on holiday in the year 2000, Sue 'fell in love with the place' and after seeing the extent of the poverty and lack of schooling facilities, she knew she wanted to help out.
Husband Dave said: “Sue said 'this can’t be right, we’ve got to do something to help these kids'.
“From then we did fundraisers, anything we can to make as much money we can to bring back to Kenya to help these vulnerable school children.”
By establishing The Happy House family, which has supporters around the world, Sue has created a real loving home for youngsters where they can enjoy a worry-free childhood and grow in safety with education and opportunities.
Sue extended her work by adding a primary school, situated on a site close by, which provides an outstanding education to children living at the Happy House and locally.
As an inspiration to so many, Sue reportedly never let anything get in the way of her Happy House work.
Even when she was diagnosed breast cancer, she continued to run the Happy House from Blackpool where she was being treated and Kept in touch via daily Skype meetings.
Husband Dave has said in a video message, created for the 55 children at the Happy House, that he has been left devastated by his wife’s death.
"She was the love of my life,” he said.
“Mama Sue has left us, she’s broken my heart, broke a lot of people’s hearts but left them happy because knowing her was a privilege.
“Everybody had a kind word for her, she was a beautiful, beautiful woman.”
She travelled across the North West and beyond speaking about her work and raising money for her Happy House and in 2008 she received the Lancashire Woman of the Year Award.
Sue believed every child deserves a chance in life, regardless of background.
She said: ‘Our children have the best. I believe that is what every child deserves.
“They have their own clothes and belongings and, at our school, they are getting the best education.
‘Everything we have at the Happy House and in school has been donated and we ensure that everything we receive, right down to the last shilling, the last grain of rice, is accounted for and that it goes exactly where it is intended - to our children."
After years of dedicating her life to the children, Sue would never turn away a child in need and always said: "At Happy House there is always room for another,”.
News of Sue's death has brought tributes pouring in from around the world.
Chris Franklin, a trustee of the charity said: "Sue was a loving, passionate lady who changed young people's lives for the better. Her spirit will live on in all who met her.
It’s was an honour supporting Sue and being a friend. "
Elizabeth Gomm, a charity volunteer and long-time friend of Sue, said: "Sue was an inspiration and a woman of great courage.
“She committed herself completely to the children of Watamu and the surrounding area .
“She and Dave gave up everything in the UK to devote all their time to running the project and her legacy is immense.
"Working in another country is never easy but Sue was able to win the respect of all those she met and was much loved by those she employed and a real Mama to the children in her care .
“She was not just Mama to the children but to the whole community of Watamu and beyond.
"She will be very much missed but her Happy House legacy will live on, just as she intended."
To find out more about Sue and her charity visit www.childrenofwatamu.net
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