The Worcester Legends series profiles the ‘ordinary people’ who make our city such a great place to live due to their passion, dedication and kindness.

COMMUNITY stalwart and carer to her 99-year-old mum, Marilyn Furlong was nominated by her friend Natalie Gowing.

The pair met a couple of years ago when Marilyn agreed to help out with the annual Brickfield’s firework display.

The event had been cancelled in 2015 due to lack of funds, after Worcester Community Trust said it could no longer run it.

Mum-of-three Natalie took it on herself to resurrect the much-loved display, forming a committee with Marilyn and other members of the Friends of King George V Playing Fields.

They worked tireless hours to organise the 2016 event and the following year’s, and Natalie got to know a very inspirational woman, with quite a history of making things happen for others.

“She has given up so much of her time to do all the paperwork etcetera, as I've been busy with work and my children.

“She cares for her 99-year-old mother [Biddy Furlong], whilst still giving up so much time for the community,” said Natalie.

Marilyn’s daughter Becky Jeynes said her mum started her voluntary work around 40 years ago in Brickfields “from organising carnival floats to football tournamnets”.

“Then, approximately 35 years ago, when we were kids, she realised there was nothing for the children of Brickfields to do in the school holidays, so she opened the centre on KGV [playing fields] to local children to come and play games arts and crafts,” said Becky.

“Every year it grew bigger and better. She recruited local volunteers to help run it and keep the children safe while having fun. She spends all year fundraising, to make it as cheap as possible, so every child has the chance to come.”

Becky went on to say that the KGV holiday club has grown “into the biggest and best affordable play scheme in Worcester, taking children on trips to the seaside, farms, theme parks and cinemas”.

A few years ago, Marilyn even postponed an operation, as it was planned for when the play scheme was taking place and she didn’t want to let the children down.

“When she was at work she used her annual leave to run it,” said Becky.

On top of her work with KGV, she also runs two weekly clubs for pensioners, again spending all year fundraising to run Bingo nights and trips to the beach, as well as Christmas and Easter parties.

“Again, she also gave up her annual leave to take the OAPs on holiday many times, spending the time pushing wheel chairs and helping with meals etcetera,” said Becky.

“As you can see, I think she is a very worthy candidate for the award,” she added.