Tributes for Sue, Melton’s beloved ‘cake lady’

Sue Dawson, who was 65, spent seven days in the Leicester Royal Infirmary and her final days in the intensive care unit before she died on April 2.

Daughters Katie Shrivastava (38) and 36-year-old Lucy Longley were unable to see their mother after she fell ill because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

They told the Melton Times in a statement: “We are heartbroken that we couldn’t be with her when she died because we were both isolating.

“But we know the care she received was outstanding and to know that she was not alone has given us some comfort.

“We would like to thank everyone at Leicester Royal Infirmary for all they did for mum and for all they continue to do for others.”

Sue was born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, in 1954, and trained in catering in Buxton before moving to Leicester to work as a cook in a college.

She moved to Brooksby in 1975 and worked as a cook at Brooksby Hall.

Sue married Colin, who was originally from Frisby-on-the-wreake, in 1980, and they moved to Asfordby.

She ran a cake-making business from home and was well known in the Melton area as ‘the cake lady’.

She also taught sugarcraft evening classes from home and at local schools, and ran a café in Melton for a number of years.

The couple, who also had seven grandchildren aged from 20 months to 15 as well as their daughters, briefly retired to Cornwall in 2013 but returned to Melton three years later when Colin fell ill before passing away.

Sue enjoyed art and attended classes in Melton, and was also a member of St Mary’s Church congregation.

Katie, who now lives in Manchester, and Lucy, of Gaddesby, said in their statement: “Mum was a larger than life character, always laughing and smiling, and you could always hear her voice above anyone else’s – she liked to talk and was very sociable and well-loved.

“She had so many friends and we are so grateful for their support during this time.

“Mum adored her grandchildren and was a kind, loving nanna.

“She would often be found in the kitchen teaching them to bake.

“She will be sorely missed by all her family and friends.

“We would like people to remember mum for the person she was and not how she died.”

A private funeral for a small family gathering will be held on Tuesday and the sisters added: “With the absence of a proper funeral due to the restrictions, it is difficult to do this right now, but we will be holding a service to celebrate her life when it is safe to do so and we invite anyone who knew her to come along and share happy memories.”

The family has set up an online fundraising page which has already generated nearly £2,000 for the Leicester Hospitals Charity to help staff during the coronavirus pandemic - go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/suedawson1 to pledge money for the cause.