Park Bench tribute to Patsy Calton

On February of this year a special bench in memory of the former Cheadle MP Patsy Calton was erected in Bramhall Park. The bench can be found at the side of the Hall, overlooking the lawn. There is also a tree planted in memory of Patsy in the park.

The Patsy Calton Memorial Bench

The bench was paid for from a memorial fund created to pay a lasting tribute to the former MP. The memorial fund was set up by a group of friends and supporters and is backed by the new MP, who felt that the Park was a fitting place for her memorial because of all the happy times she spent there.

Tributes from Patsy's friends and supports

"Patsy was a spirited and courageous member of parliament, and nowhere was that spirit and commitment more evident than in the way she continued to represent Cheadle throughout the recurrence of her illness during the General Election campaign, and most movingly when only last week she took her oath in the House of Commons." Charles Kennedy MP, Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats

"Patsy's death was a great loss for Cheadle and the whole of the local area. She was extremely committed to representing the people who elected her and worked tirelessly for them. She was an excellent MP, councillor and a valued member of the Stockport team, she will be missed." - Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle

"Patsy had a keen interest and deep concern for the work of the society with disabled people. We have lost not only a supporter but a friend. We will miss her greatly." - Irene Walton, Stockport Cerebral Palsy Society

"Although we had our political differences, I could see that she was motivated by a real desire to work hard for local people and I respected her courage having beaten cancer once before." - Howard Dawber, Labour candidate for Cheadle 2001

"Patsy's death has hit us all very hard. She has been a superb MP, and was a tireless fighter for her constituents." - Andrew Stunell - Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove

"Despite her illness she campaigned tirelessly for cancer charities. Everyone will have been moved and inspired by the courage with which she fought her long illness, and everyone who saw it will remember her appearance in the House of Commons recently." - Francis Maude, Conservative Party Chairman

"I am sure that Members on all sides of the House will join in mourning the loss of a colleague and in extending our sympathy to the Honourable Member's husband, family and friends." - Michael Martin, Speaker of the House of Commons

"My sympathy goes out to her family who must be heartbroken. I was struck by her enthusiasm and determination." - Ann Coffey, Labour MP for Stockport

Mr Blair united with Mr Howard in paying tribute to Patsy Calton, Cheadle's Liberal Democrat MP, who died last week after a long battle with cancer.

"She became not just the MP for Cheadle... but she became a true community MP. In her last days, fighting against cancer, she refused to give in, she said 'other people have to fight, I'm not going to give in just because I'm a politician'." - Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Party President