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Steven Pennington at Nelson's Diner with brother Glenn, diner owner Shelly Francis, waitress Emma Aylett, sister-in-law Maureen Pennington and mum Joyce

THERE was a party atmosphere as staff at a north Hampshire diner laid on a memorable send-off for a popular customer who is moving into a care home.

Steven Pennington, 48, has been a regular at Nelson's Diner, on the A339 in Kingsclere. But now that his mother Joyce Pennington, 85, has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, he has moved into a care home in Romsey, near Southampton.

Shelly Francis, who owns the diner, said: "We are going to really miss him. He's such a character and he's always giggling."

Steven's brother Glenn and his wife Maureen moved in temporarily to care for Joyce, who lives in Byfield Road, Kingsclere, in October last year, when she became ill, and Glenn, 58, started bringing his brother to the diner two or three times a week.

Joyce said: "He loves coming here. He always comes home so happy."

Maureen, 55, added: "People don't know how to take Steven, because of his disability and because he can't talk, so they are very wary of him. But here they accepted him as Steven - the way he is.

"Nothing is too much trouble for them and he has always felt very comfortable here."

Steven has been severely disabled and wheelchair-bound since he was hit by a vehicle as a 21-year-old. He spent eight months in a coma and three years in hospital.

Glenn, who lives in Oswestry, Shropshire, said he plans to bring his brother back to Nelson's Diner whenever he comes to visit him.

12:00pm Saturday 8th March 2008

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