Cancer heartbreak for mother and daughter

A grandmother who won a battle with cancer has spoken of her heartbreak after losing her daughter to the disease.

Liz Ashcroft, a teacher at Glynne Primary School, Kingswinford, died aged 45, leaving a husband and two children.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago and was in remission until suddenly falling ill shortly after Christmas. Tests revealed the disease had spread to her lungs and liver.

Her mother Jean Hadley, of Hayley Green, Halesowen, had breast cancer eight years ago.

She said today she was devastated by her daughter's death.

"It has been hard for all of us. She had been so well at Christmas and had cooked lunch for 15 of us.

"Then suddenly she was ill again. But this time she knew it was her time to go and she wasn't resentful."

Six months ago, the family held a belated 40th birthday party for Mrs Ashcroft as she had been too ill to celebrate the milestone when she was receiving treatment.

Mrs Hadley, 74, chairman of the Halesowen RNLI branch, said it was a memory she would cherish.

"We had a wonderful time together. Liz was so brave and so strong — she was inspirational — she really did make the most of her life.

"Teaching was a her big love, especially encouraging children to enjoy reading which she believed was very important."

Mrs Ashcroft died on January 23 and more than 400 people attended her funeral on February 2, which saw her make her final journey to the church in her beloved silver VW camper van.

Mrs Ashcroft, who lived with husband Chris, 13-year-old daughter Maisie and 11-year-old son Sam, in Grosvenor Avenue, Kidderminster, bought the van when she was recuperating from chemotherapy five years ago and converted it into her silver dream machine. The family travelled in the van around Scotland, France and the Lake District.

Glynne Primary closed on the day of the funeral as a mark of respect, showing Liz's popularity at the school where teachers and pupils are still in shock at her death.