Community hero Chris Lathlane, of Newark, has her legacy honoured with memorial at St Giles Community Hall in Balderton
A community’s hero legacy was honoured with a tree and memorial plaque.
Chris Lathlane, of Newark, was a Guide Commissioner and devoted her life to helping others — enriching the lives of thousands — before her death from cancer in 2021.
More than 40 people attended an event organised by her sister-in-law, Christine Lathlane, to plant a dwarf apple tree and a memorial plaque in the garden of St Giles’ Community Hall, Balderton.
Mrs Lathlane reopened 1st Balderton Guides when her daughter, Sharon, wanted to join but found that places were limited.
Chris reopened the unit in 1974 and then ran the unit for 38 years before she retired.
Friends, family and former guide members and leaders attended the event, which was described by Christine as quite emotional.
The event took place on the same day as the Guides’ annual Brownie Toadstool competition, April 27.
The Vicar of St Giles Church, Louise Holliday blessed the tree after it was planted and people had the chance to take some soil and say their goodbyes and thank you to Chris.
“It was quite overwhelming seeing so many people show up, it just shows how much Chris was appreciated in the village for everything she has done,” said Christine.
The family, including her granddaughter, Sophie, took a Book of Memories to the event as some people didn’t have the chance to attend the funeral and leave their wishes to Chris.
“It meant a lot for us as a family to have something permanent to honour her,” said Sophie.
“People were talking about how funny she was, some people said how much she inspired them to become the person they are today.
“It was a really nice way to commemorate her and the inspirational and funny person she was.”
Chris was named a Citizen of the Year in 2017 in awards run by the district council to recognise the work of unsung heroes.
She was the winner of the over 60s category for her contribution to Guiding, the Methodist Church in Newark, children with special needs and other voluntary work.
She was a district and division commissioner with the Guides and led the Newark Ranger Unit during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
She led nine trips to Switzerland for 50 Guides at a time, organising fundraising events so that everybody could afford to go.
When she retired as a leader she continued to be involved as a member of Newark Friends of Guiding and a Notts County Trefoil member.
The event not only honoured Chris’s memory but allowed everyone to catch up, share stories and share one of the things that Chris loved to do the most — laugh.
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