January's Supermum is "special" (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

January's Supermum is "special"

Irene Stoodley, of Bulbridge, who has been chosen as January winner of the Southern Electric/Journal Supermum of the month with husband Brian and daughter Julie.A WOMAN who has always been there for her four children and always puts their well-being before her own has been deservedly crowned January's Southern Electric/Journal Supermum.

Irene Stoodley, of Bulbridge, Wilton, was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a cheque for £100 on Friday last week, after her daughter, Julie, nominated her for the special title.

Julie (34) said: "She has always been there for me and seen me through thick and thin.

"She really is just wonderful - everything anyone could ever wish for in a great mum."

In 1984, Julie was involved in a very serious road traffic accident and was in a coma for two weeks.

Irene (64) stayed with her at Southampton General Hospital and talked to her every day, while her father, Brian, travelled backwards and forwards from their then home in Salisbury.

Julie said: "I spent months in rehabilitation but I am now fully recovered. If I hadn't been shown so much love, I don't think I would ever have woken up."

Altogether, it took five years before Julie was back to her former self, and throughout that time her mum looked after her and nursed her back to health.

Julie was finally able to return the favour two years ago, when Irene broke her ankle while on holiday in Menorca.

She was there to help look after her mum on her return home and again last year, when Irene lost her own mother.

"Like me and my mum, they were very close, and her death has hit my mum hard," said Julie.

"Winning this competition is a great way of letting her know how special she is to me, even though I tell her I love her whenever I see her.

"I am the only one of the four children who lives near to them and I phone my mum all the time because I love her so much.

"She is loving, caring and so very, very special and she really is a super mum, not just of the month but of a lifetime."

Irene, a part-time typist at Salisbury District Hospital, said she was completely taken aback to hear she had won January's Supermum competition and said that she didn't deserve the title.

"There are a lot more deserving mums out there," she said. "I have just done what any other mum would do."

Now is the time to get your nominations in for the February Supermum competition.

If you think your mother is out of the ordinary, let us know all about her. Send your nominations to the Southern Electric/Journal Supermum competition, Salisbury Journal, Rollestone House, Rollestone Street, Salisbury, SP1 1DY or by e-mail to newsdesk

@salisburyjournal.co.uk