Lottery park to be renamed after community man David

Buy photos » Mums and toddlers in the refubished park and play area with Corrine Spencer, and Olivia and Austin who officially re-opened the park. 31.012.035.cov.jm1 (www.buyphotos247.com)

A CHILDREN'S play area in Stoke Green is to be renamed in memory of the man who helped earn National Lottery money to pay for it.

Dr David Spencer, chairman of Gosford Park Residents' Association, died in April aged 71 after suffering a heart attack while carrying out his community work. It was just two months after the play area was opened.

Now plans are be finalised to rename it Dr Dave's Tick Tock Park while £2,700 had been raised towards the cost of a new piece of play equipment in his memory.

The city council is also planning to spend some money on further improvements at the park as a result of the new play area's popularity.

Dr Spencer's widow Corrine told us: "The play area has been a fantastic success. On nice days it is chock a block from eight in the morning until eight at night.

"When he died businesses and residents asked for it to be renamed in his memory which was really nice and testament to his commitment to getting it built.

"His death was so sudden and it is still a painful thought, but he was a unique person who certainly left his footprint on earth and the park really is a nice legacy he leaves behind."

The play area at the junction of Stoke Green and Binley Road was one of five winners of a public vote on ITV and a £56,000 share of a fund set up to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The money also paid for a memorial plaque for philanthropist Joseph Levi to replace a dilapidated clock in his memory.

At the time retired teacher Dr Spencer spoke of his frustration that not one of the three parks in Stoke Green had any climbing frames, swings or slides for many years.

After unsuccessfully pushing for money from the council he took the search for funding to the Big Lottery Fund Jubilee People’s Millions contest.

In his eulogy at Dr Spencer's funeral in May, his friend Keith Smith said of the play area project: "He felt it showed what could be done when people pooled their efforts, their skills, discussed solutions to local needs and problems in a friendly co-operative way."

A renaming ceremony will take place at a date yet to be confirmed.

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