No memorial for Colin

NEWHAVEN Town Council has refused to pay for a memorial bench in honour of a young man who struggled against brain illness to help others in the community.

Colin Webb, 28, died in January, following a lifetime of poor health which left him paralysed from the neck down.

During his short life he was an active member of the Sea Cadets, St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross and a well known figure around town.

At Colin's funeral the Mayoress of Newhaven, Cllr Pat Fitton, suggested to his mother, Marina Webb, that a bench be sited in the town centre in his honour.

But when the proposal came before the council's amenities committee the majority of members felt it would be inappropriate to fund a memorial seat when there might be many other deserving cases.

The Mayoress was saddened at the decision. She said: 'I voted for it and so did my husband, but others felt that if they did it for one person they would have to do it for quite a few very special people.'

Benches can be bought at any garden superstore for as little as 30, with a top of the range bench costing only 130.

Members agreed that if a third party offered to finance the bench it would help them with its arrangements. The Mayoress added: 'It was suggested that if one of the organisations Colin was involved with paid for it we would have no qualms about that whatsoever and help in any way we could.'

Colin endured countless operations after being born three months premature with a condition called hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) which affected his co-ordination. However, even when confined to a wheelchair he continued to go to Red Cross meetings and was on duty at the Newhaven Lifeboat summer fair last year.

The council had not informed Marina Webb of its decision to reject the Mayoress's idea.

When the Sussex Express told her she said: 'It is disappointing. Colin did spend a lot of time in the town centre. It was not something I asked for, it was suggested to me at his funeral.'