Tragedy of devoted mum

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Thursday 16th Oct 2003.

Grandfather David Winter has given up his job to bring up his grandchildren after their 27-year-old mother Cheryl Winter died suddenly of an asthma attack.

Miss Winter, of North End, Calne, died in Northlands surgery after suffering two asthma attacks.

Mat Young, 28, her partner and father of her youngest daughter, took her to the surgery because she could not breathe properly.

Miss Winter responded to the treatment and was stabilised. Mr Young then went to collect her oldest daughter from school. Miss Winter stayed at the surgery and suffered a second massive attack, which killed her.

Her father has now moved from his home in Swindon to Miss Winter's house in Calne to care for her children full time.

She leaves seven-year-old Jessica, who attends Fynamore School, and nine-month-old Emily. Mr Winter, 60, has taken early retirement from his job as a lorry driver.

"I am mother, father, grandmother, all in one. I have had to pack up work to devote myself full time to the children. The courts have granted me temporary legal custody which will be formalised in two weeks time," said Mr Winter.

Great-grandmother Joyce Barnes, who described herself as Miss Winter's sister, best friend and mother, will also be helping to bring up the children.

Mrs Barnes, a widow of Walter Sutton Close, Calne, said her granddaughter was a wonderful mother, who always put her children first.

"Her whole life was devoted to her two children. We were so proud of her. She really adored them," she said.

Miss Winter was born in Germany while her father was serving in the Army. The family moved to Calne when he left the forces in 1984 and Miss Winter attended John Bentley School and got involved in many different activities. "She joined the Army Training Corps and went to many activities with them. She played cymbals and drums in their band," said Mrs Barnes.

Miss Winter suffered problems with asthma from the age of 12.

"She once had an attack in the car park of Northlands Surgery. They had to resuscitate her on the car park floor. She died and they brought her back," said Mrs Barnes.

Later on Miss Winter moved to Swindon and worked for Motorola, and then as an assistant manager at Burger King at the Membury Service Station.

She gave up working four years ago so she could care for her children full time.

"She was a wonderful, adoring mother to her children. Despite all her illnesses she did all she could for them," said Mr Winter.

"She was very, very cheerful and did anything for anybody. She was a popular member of Calne community. Just about everyone knew her."

"Most people in Calne knew she was suffering from asthma but they did not grasp how serious it was."

Mrs Barnes said her granddaughter often had difficulty breathing and had many trips to the hospital.

"She knew more about it than the doctors," said Mrs Barnes. "Many times she rang me and said can you take me to Chippenham hospital because she was tightening up.

"One time when she had an attack the ambulance phoned Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital and said send a doctor out and meet us half way, it was that serious."

Mr Winter said: "She knew exactly how to control it and she was taking a lot of medication constantly. She had three near misses before the last attack. Each attack seemed to get bigger."

The family are keen to get the message across that asthma is a serious illness that can be fatal and people should be made more aware of its dangers. Miss Winter died during National Asthma Awareness Week.

"I would hate to put anybody else through it," said Mr Winter. "Hopefully given time they may find a cure for it.

"As long as we can do some good out of our tragedy. We would like donations to go to the National Asthma Campaign that carries out research, via Wootten's funeral directors."

The funeral was held at St Mary's Church, Calne, on Tuesday, followed by burial at the Non-Conformist Church. Miss Winter also leaves a 24-year-old brother, Peter, who lives in Guernsey.

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