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Big bash tribute to 'Little Trace'
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| Tracey Whetnall, affectionately known as "Little Trace" |
A BRAVE and bubbly mum from Basingstoke who lost her fight against cancer has been remembered at a tribute bash.
Tracey Whetnall, who died in January, would have been celebrating her 40th birthday this week.
Among her last wishes was that her family and friends would still go ahead and hold a party to mark what would have been a milestone birthday.
And they certainly did not let her down, with more than 200 revellers gathering in Basingstoke Rugby Football Club for a Spurs-themed celebration in honour of the Tottenham fan.
Daughter Natasha, 19, said: "She would have enjoyed it 100 per cent, although maybe she would have felt a bit modest."
Also attending the party was Tracey's father Fred Whetnall, who helped deliver her at birth when the ambulance went to the wrong address, and was by her side during her last moments in St Michael's Hospice.
Fred was joined at the party by his other children, and Tracey's siblings, Carol, Lisa and Dave.
While Tracey may have only been 5ft 1in, "Little Trace" is remembered for her big, friendly personality which even cancer failed to crush.
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| Natasha Whetnall and grandfather Fred Whetnall (front) join family members and friends to celebrate what would have been Tracey Whetnall's 40th birthda |
Five years ago, Tracey, of Coppice Mews, Winklebury, overcame cervical cancer but, after becoming unwell on holiday last year, doctors found the cancer had returned, this time in her lung and liver.
Natasha said her mum - who attended Fort Hill school in Winklebury, and later worked in the Newman Bassett Elderly Persons Resource Centre, in Warwick Road, and then Elmwood Food Stores, Elmwood - took the illness in her stride and never complained.
"She was always a bundle of joy," said her proud daughter. "Every time we visited her in the hospice, she would always be really positive and never let it destroy her spirit. She was so bubbly and sweet, and we need more people like her in the world. She was a one-off."
Ronnie Pomfret, of Kings Furlong, Basingstoke, said the party was a fitting tribute to her sociable and generous friend of 20 years.
"She was always the life and soul of the party," she said. "She had a heart that was too big for her body - she would help anybody out."
If you would like to leave a tribute in memory of Tracey, you can do so below.
11:33am Thursday 15th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: elaine, basingstoke on 5:19pm Thu 15 May 08
trace-we had so many laffs 2gether,n lots of drunken nites,in n out of work,went 2 sch gether had our kids 2gether,u stayed strong rite til the end girl n u showed no fear,u taught me alot n that is to live life to the max as u just dont no when yr numbers up.... but one thing 4 sure was that i was so proud 2 of known u.rest assured tash a credit to u and is ever inch of u so u will never b forgotten...its true he only takes the best but y did he have to take u?????????? R-I-P TRACE LOVE ELAINE RYAN RICK AND SOPHIE ****
trace-we had so many laffs 2gether,n lots of drunken nites,in n out of work,went 2 sch gether had our kids 2gether,u stayed strong rite til the end girl n u showed no fear,u taught me alot n that is to live life to the max as u just dont no when yr numbers up.... but one thing 4 sure was that i was so proud 2 of known u.rest assured tash a credit to u and is ever inch of u so u will never b forgotten...its true he only takes the best but y did he have to take u?????????? R-I-P TRACE LOVE ELAINE RYAN RICK AND SOPHIE ****
Posted by: lwhetnall, basingstoke on 8:49pm Thu 15 May 08
To my darling Sister Trace,
We miss you so much 'Flower', not a day goes past when we don't think about you.
Your '40th' Memorial Party proved how much you were loved & cherished - I'm was so proud to of been able to call you my 'Big Sister'.
Memories - Were do I start, I have so many. Some of my favourite include: Laughing at Dad'd new teeth!! You falling over at Utopia Nightclub in front of everyone on the dancefloor!! & the most recent Me, you & Dene on the Massage Beds at Nirvana Spa!!!! (I can't really go into graphic detail here!).
We love you so much, Dene still has an acoount with Kleenex Tissues! We miss your advice, listening ear (well it had to be because we couldn't get a word in edgeways!) & most of all we miss your scatty, bubbly personality & I was so proud that throughout our lives together we never had a cross word.
R.I.P flower, keep guiding us (as promised).
Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts.
Lis & Dene ****
To my darling Sister Trace,
We miss you so much 'Flower', not a day goes past when we don't think about you.
Your '40th' Memorial Party proved how much you were loved & cherished - I'm was so proud to of been able to call you my 'Big Sister'.
Memories - Were do I start, I have so many. Some of my favourite include: Laughing at Dad'd new teeth!! You falling over at Utopia Nightclub in front of everyone on the dancefloor!! & the most recent Me, you & Dene on the Massage Beds at Nirvana Spa!!!! (I can't really go into graphic detail here!).
We love you so much, Dene still has an acoount with Kleenex Tissues! We miss your advice, listening ear (well it had to be because we couldn't get a word in edgeways!) & most of all we miss your scatty, bubbly personality & I was so proud that throughout our lives together we never had a cross word.
R.I.P flower, keep guiding us (as promised).
Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts.
Lis & Dene ****
Posted by: Football Fan, Basingstoke on 11:29am Sat 17 May 08
I had the delight of knowing " Little Trace ", courtesy of friends, for a few brief years, and in that time she left a positive impression on me with her freindly dizzy humour. She always had time for people and had the knack of making even a stranger feel at ease with her little smile, never has a cliche had a truer meaning when I say " this world will be a poorer place without you "
Just for you Trace .....COME ON YOU SPURS!!!
It was a real pleasure to know you.
Cliff x
I had the delight of knowing " Little Trace ", courtesy of friends, for a few brief years, and in that time she left a positive impression on me with her freindly dizzy humour. She always had time for people and had the knack of making even a stranger feel at ease with her little smile, never has a cliche had a truer meaning when I say " this world will be a poorer place without you "
Just for you Trace .....COME ON YOU SPURS!!!
It was a real pleasure to know you.
Cliff x
Posted by: Ronnie, Basingstoke on 6:57pm Mon 19 May 08
My best bud [bold]'Little Trace'[/bold]
We are lost without you in our lives, we spent so many weekends together, you were part of our family and in the 20 years I knew you we were sisters at heart. We shared alot of laughs together and feel cheated of having such a courageous friend in our lives taken. We want you back, we want that crazy bud, I miss our crazy times together.
Words can't explain how you are missed but here are a few to hand.
Something so hard
goes straight to the soul;
it seems impossible to get over
and my heart is left with a big hole.
I'm trying to be happy, wearing a smile;
but I'm dying inside.
The world seems to be fading,
and I just want to run and hide.
Everywhere I go I see your face,
and realize how much I miss you;
and on the day you died
a piece of me died too.
Love you babe
Ronnie, Gavin, Calvin and Nicholas
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
My best bud
'Little Trace'
We are lost without you in our lives, we spent so many weekends together, you were part of our family and in the 20 years I knew you we were sisters at heart. We shared alot of laughs together and feel cheated of having such a courageous friend in our lives taken. We want you back, we want that crazy bud, I miss our crazy times together.
Words can't explain how you are missed but here are a few to hand.
Something so hard
goes straight to the soul;
it seems impossible to get over
and my heart is left with a big hole.
I'm trying to be happy, wearing a smile;
but I'm dying inside.
The world seems to be fading,
and I just want to run and hide.
Everywhere I go I see your face,
and realize how much I miss you;
and on the day you died
a piece of me died too.
Love you babe
Ronnie, Gavin, Calvin and Nicholas
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Ronnie, Basingstoke on 6:59pm Mon 19 May 08
[quote][bold]Ronnie[/bold] wrote:
My best bud [bold]'Little Trace'[/bold] We are lost without you in our lives, we spent so many weekends together, you were part of our family and in the 20 years I knew you we were sisters at heart. We shared alot of laughs together and feel cheated of having such a courageous friend in our lives taken. We want you back, we want that crazy bud, I miss our crazy times together. Words can't explain how you are missed but here are a few to hand. Something so hard goes straight to the soul; it seems impossible to get over and my heart is left with a big hole. I'm trying to be happy, wearing a smile; but I'm dying inside. The world seems to be fading, and I just want to run and hide. Everywhere I go I see your face, and realize how much I miss you; and on the day you died a piece of me died too. Love you babe Ronnie, Gavin, Calvin and Nicholas xxxxxxxxxxxxx [/quote] We will of course be there for that little courageous daughter of yours Tasha, who has such a big heart just like you and just amazes me everytime we see her. x
Ronnie wrote:
My best bud 'Little Trace' We are lost without you in our lives, we spent so many weekends together, you were part of our family and in the 20 years I knew you we were sisters at heart. We shared alot of laughs together and feel cheated of having such a courageous friend in our lives taken. We want you back, we want that crazy bud, I miss our crazy times together. Words can't explain how you are missed but here are a few to hand. Something so hard goes straight to the soul; it seems impossible to get over and my heart is left with a big hole. I'm trying to be happy, wearing a smile; but I'm dying inside. The world seems to be fading, and I just want to run and hide. Everywhere I go I see your face, and realize how much I miss you; and on the day you died a piece of me died too. Love you babe Ronnie, Gavin, Calvin and Nicholas xxxxxxxxxxxxx
We will of course be there for that little courageous daughter of yours Tasha, who has such a big heart just like you and just amazes me everytime we see her. x
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