During lockdown, a group of friends and organic vegetable growers have come together as part of an allotment project to raise money for Herriot Hospice Homecare in memory of a “dear friend”.

Led by founding member Jon Stephenson, ‘The Allotmenteers’ from Northallerton have been growing vegetables, in memory of their friend Paul Brennan, known as Bren.

Bren was cared for in the last days of his life in November 2019 by Herriot Hospice carers. The group is donating the proceeds from the vegetables they grow and sell to support Herriot Hospice Homecare's care and support across Hambleton and Richmondshire.

Jon said: “Following the death of our dear friend Bren in November 2019, we decided to set up a memorial fund in his name to say thank you to Herriot Hospice Homecare for all the support and comfort they provided to him and his family.

“We started ‘The Allotmenteers’ project in Bren’s memory. In his last summer months, he would take a daily walk and would come to the allotment, sit under the shade of our plum tree and listen to the birdsong, enjoying the peace and quiet.

“We’d swap old memories and crazy stories from our school days to the present.

“Bren was one of the funniest people you could ever meet. He would keep us laughing all day and take the mickey out of us trying to dig the rock-hard soil on the allotment plots, like ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen out in the midday sun’.

“Sadly, he died too soon aged just 52 in November that year, but his spirit and the spinach he planted, will live on forever with us all down at the allotments and through our tribute fundraising with Herriot Hospice Homecare.

“We have set up the memorial fund with Herriot Hospice Homecare, to not only thank them for the amazing work they do through their care for those living with a terminal illness, but also to draw attention to the other invaluable services they offer. We know of many people in our community who have benefitted from the other support services that Herriot provides to local people living with terminal illness and bereavement.”