EXCLUSIVE: Beehive saved in Honour of much loved Honiton woman

A plaque in memory of a woman who loved her community was revealed at The Beehive yesterday afternoon (Sept 25).

The commemorative piece, in honour of Wendy Woolcombe, was the wish of family members who donated a substantial sum of money securing the foreseeable future of the charity who run Honiton's award-winning community centre.

Chair of Honiton Community Complex, Serena Sexton said: "We are just so very grateful to Daryl, Mandy and Scott, that in order to commemorate Wendy, they have been so kind to help The Beehive and the charity, Honiton Community Complex.

"Without their help, this community centre would not survive and that is the truth of it."

Behind the generous donation, brothers Scott and Daryl Dylan had this to say: "Our aunt, Wendy Woolcombe, who died suddenly in the Glen in 2018 loved her community.

"And the community were amazing when we came up with the idea of having a bench for her placed in the Glen.

"It showed how much she was truly loved.

"Equally, we love and believe in the community as a family, and want to support all the hard work that Serena and her team do here at The Beehive.

"So in memory of our aunt, we've happily come forward to support The Beehive and to enable it to have a future."

Mandy Garrett also provided a moving statement in honour of her sister, Wendy: "Our childhood wasn't a happy one. We both craved the love of our mother, Carol, which never happened and we suffered for that in so many different ways.

"Carol moved to Devon and Wendy followed not very long afterwards still hoping to have that relationship a child needed from a parent, but it wasn't to be.

"We drifted apart due to different life styles and lost contact for years.

"Over the years, after Carol came back into my life and so did Wendy, but it wasn't good. Wendy was very sad and lonely and in a bad place in her life.

"She always tried to make the most of a bad situation though, and over the years she got a roof over her head and made a solid home for herself.

"But her mistakes in life took their toll on her and she had gone down a slippery path.

"A few years back Wendy had became poorly with cancer and it really scared her.

"She started to sort herself out, but needed help so myself and my Mark helped her to get on her feet, cleaned her up and put her life back in to some sort of order.

"That was the turning point when I got my sister back.

"Wendy always had a strong passion for her dogs and loved each and every one of them.

"One day, she took another rescue dog on who became her life. Taz was her best friend and where Wendy went, Taz would be by her side.

"Mark and I would often go and see her and Taz and have some really lovely memories from days out we shared, even if it was just going down town and having a gin.

"We had an amazing day in Sidmouth on her 50th, walking Taz on the beach and watching her play. It was great to see her so happy.

"Wendy became poorly again and needed surgery. But even that couldn't keep her away from Taz, as she worried more for him then she did herself.

"I got her to learn how to use FaceTime so I could still see her and could keep regular checks and she was always happy and always had a smile on her face, probably just to stop me going down and nagging her!

"We were arranging a holiday together, her first in a very long time and had received her passport.

"We were very excited, even chatting about Christmas, just generally making plans together like sisters do.

"She had someone she trusted to look after Taz, her friend Claire, so everything was good except her health, but she was coping.

"She had become a loving, caring, passionate person; always there to help others and I truly believe she never knew how much people loved and cared about her in Honiton.

"The stories I've been hearing since she passed have been amazing and I'm so proud that I got to have my sister back and got to live the last few years with her in my life.

"She made such a difference to me and my family who will miss her so much, but also to her friends who gave her a reason to carry on.

"'Till we meet again sis, always in my heart."