Big bash tribute to 'Little Trace'

11:33am Thursday 15th May 2008

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A BRAVE and bubbly mum from Basingstoke who lost her fight against cancer has been remembered at a tribute bash.

Tracey Whetnall, who died in January, would have been celebrating her 40th birthday this week.

Among her last wishes was that her family and friends would still go ahead and hold a party to mark what would have been a milestone birthday.

And they certainly did not let her down, with more than 200 revellers gathering in Basingstoke Rugby Football Club for a Spurs-themed celebration in honour of the Tottenham fan.

Daughter Natasha, 19, said: "She would have enjoyed it 100 per cent, although maybe she would have felt a bit modest."

Also attending the party was Tracey's father Fred Whetnall, who helped deliver her at birth when the ambulance went to the wrong address, and was by her side during her last moments in St Michael's Hospice.

Fred was joined at the party by his other children, and Tracey's siblings, Carol, Lisa and Dave.

While Tracey may have only been 5ft 1in, "Little Trace" is remembered for her big, friendly personality which even cancer failed to crush.

Five years ago, Tracey, of Coppice Mews, Winklebury, overcame cervical cancer but, after becoming unwell on holiday last year, doctors found the cancer had returned, this time in her lung and liver.

Natasha said her mum - who attended Fort Hill school in Winklebury, and later worked in the Newman Bassett Elderly Persons Resource Centre, in Warwick Road, and then Elmwood Food Stores, Elmwood - took the illness in her stride and never complained.

"She was always a bundle of joy," said her proud daughter. "Every time we visited her in the hospice, she would always be really positive and never let it destroy her spirit. She was so bubbly and sweet, and we need more people like her in the world. She was a one-off."

Ronnie Pomfret, of Kings Furlong, Basingstoke, said the party was a fitting tribute to her sociable and generous friend of 20 years.

"She was always the life and soul of the party," she said. "She had a heart that was too big for her body - she would help anybody out."

If you would like to leave a tribute in memory of Tracey, you can do so below.