Remembering our friend Sue Ferguson

We are deeply saddened by the recent death of our friend Sue Ferguson.

Sue was a driving force in our early years when we set out to take Stretford Public Hall into community ownership. Her passion for the project was contagious. Sue got involved with every aspect of volunteering at the hall.

You could find her behind the bar at events, serving her delicious mulled wine at the Christmas fair and shaking maracas in support of marathon runners running past the hall. She would open the hall and run reception for our much loved weekly choir ‘Stretford Singers’.

She offered support in filling out census forms to those who were unable to fill them out for themselves. In recent years we welcomed her onto the staff team where she would regularly greet our wedding guests and make sure they had a taxi ready for a safe journey home.

Sue shared the poem below with us, because it resonated with her. She lived her life to the fullest and made lots of friends along the way. She will be deeply missed by all her colleagues and fellow volunteers here at the hall.

A wake to celebrate Sue’s life is scheduled to be held at the hall. Any friends and acquaintences wishing to attend the wake can contact friends@stretfordpublichall.org.uk or call 0161 989 1689 for further details.

Dust If You Must by Rose Milligan

Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there’s not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world’s out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it’s not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.