Pioneering Shed Shop fundraiser dies at 79
A grandmother who ran a charity shop from the bottom of her garden, raising more than £65,000 over two decades, has died. Pauline Barnett was 79.
Mrs Barnett set up her shop in 1979 in a shed at her home in Needwood Grove, Stone Cross, West Bromwich. It was such a novelty at the time, it attracted bargain hunters from as far afield as Ireland.
The mother of three started selling secondhand clothes to raise money for the Williams Syndrome Foundation. Her son Michael was born with the condition, which causes mental and physical disabilities, and died aged 35.
Mrs Barnett died at Sandwell Hospital on Monday after losing her battle with Alzheimer's.
She leaves behind her 81-year-old husband Albert, a retired foundry worker, 59-year-old son Robert and daughter Sue, 57.
Sue, a construction company worker from Stone Cross, said today: "She opened up the shop before there were any official charity shops and it was a great success.
"People used to come from miles and one woman used to come from Ireland with an empty suitcase to fill up.
"I'm so proud of mom and all that she did. She grew up with not much money during the war and was never materialistic – all she ever wanted to do was help."
The store closed in 2003. Known as The Shed Shop, it sold everything from jigsaws to antiques.
Mrs Barnett also leaves grandchildren, Chris, 24, Scott, 20, and Billie, 15. Her funeral is on November 20 at West Bromwich Crematorium at 2pm.
