Crooks target hero MBE grandmother from Wolverhampton
A remarkable grandmother who has spent the past 50 years working tirelessly to improve her community has been burgled, with the thieves stealing rings given to her by her late husband.
Selfless 76-year-old Essie Lewis has won a host of accolades, including an MBE for voluntary service and an Express & Star Local Hero award.
Thieves broke into her Oxley home on February 2 and escaped with a £5,000 haul that including two diamond rings of huge sentimental value.
Both were presents from her late husband, Wellesley, and one celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
The burglars also stole her Volvo C30, but this was found parked in nearby Bushbury a couple of days later and is currently being forensically examined by specialist officers.
Police hunting the culprits are keen to trace two men seen on CCTV at the house at the time of the break-in and driving away in the car.
Mrs Lewis, a 76-year-old widow who in 2000 established the Moreland Trust based in Whitmore Reans that offers care and support services to older people, was asleep in bed when the thieves struck.
She said today: "I have lived in this house for around 40 years and always felt secure in it, but this has unsettled me.
"It has tarnished the many happy memories I have of my life here.
"I feel that I have been watched by people, but I have to be strong and carry on with my life."
Councillor Ian Claymore, who represents Oxley, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of this despicable crime and would encourage anybody with information about it to contact the police so that the culprit or culprits can be caught and punished as quickly as possible."
Fellow councillor Ian Angus, whose Bushbury North ward includes the home address of Mrs Lewis, added: "I know the lady and am shocked by this very sad news.
"Essie is a real community champion and an inspiration to those who have worked with her over the years. Now is the time for people to help her by telling the police what they know about this offence."
Mrs Lewis was awarded the MBE in 2010 for voluntary service to older African Caribbean people in Wolverhampton in 2010.
Detective Constable Stuart McNeil, from Wolverhampton's Investigation Team, said: "This lady continues to work tirelessly for her community and this burglary has come as a huge blow to her.
"Two diamond rings that hold great sentimental value were also stolen along with an iPad and laptop. We are sure that someone locally must know who these thieves are and are now appealing for information. Mrs Lewis has always put her community first and now this is the time for people to repay her kindness by calling with information that could help catch these culprits."
The Moreland Trust Mrs Lewis set up originally involved just four people, but over the years the organisation secured a number of grants which allowed it to grow.
Mrs Lewis was supported in her work by her husband, who died in 2008.
When she was given her MBE in 2010, Mrs Lewis said the trust had helped up to 300 people with many day-to-day situations such as helping with renovation grants, resolving the breakdown of care packages and even doing home visits.
Mrs Lewis, who has worked for both Sandwell and Birmingham Councils doing residential social work as well as at the now closed Furzebrook Knitting Company in Wolverhampton, also spent 18 years as a board member of of Wolverhampton Racial Equality Council.
When handed her Express & Star Local Hero award in 2010, Mrs Lewis said: "I'm very happy to receive this award. It's nice to be appreciated."
In 2007, the Express & Star reported on Mr and Mrs Lewis' 50th wedding anniversary. The couple celebrated the milestone at the New Testament Church in Heath Town. They met in Jamaica where they both lived in the late 1950s, before Mr Lewis decided he wanted to travel to England for a better life and employment.
His young bride stayed at home for a year, but after missing him terribly, she followed him to the other side of the world and they lived in London briefly before moving to Wolverhampton, and going on to have four children.
Mr Lewis spent 30 years working at Goodyear and Mrs Lewis at other factories in Wolverhampton.
Anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on 101 of leave information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
