Friends make a play for tribute to Moyra

TWO friends from East Lothian have launched a £30,000 fundraising campaign to create a permanent tribute to a much-loved Tranent woman.

Susan Tully and Kirsty McGregor, from Tranent, want to raise enough money to create a new children's soft play area in the town's Loch Centre in memory of Moyra McNeil, who died suddenly in February after suffering a stroke at the age of 57.

Mrs McNeil, a mother-of-two, ran the centre's crche and organised the children's summer play scheme for two decades.

Mrs Tully's four-year-old twins, Jack and Joe, have attended the crche since they were six months old and Miss McGregor worked alongside Mrs McNeil for eight years at the centre.

The facility already has a small soft play but the pair want to install a replacement, with a multi-level play zone featuring slides and obstacles, and dedicate it to Mrs McNeil.

Mrs Tully, 33, a banking customer services officer, said: "We wanted to do something to remember Moyra.

"She was so much more than a woman who worked in the centre.

"She was just lovely and she lived for her family and her job. Moyra always had time for everyone and it was a standing joke that it took her half an hour to do a ten-minute walk because she was always getting stopped and speaking to people.

"We want to make sure that people touched by Moyra's kindness never forget."

Miss McGregor, 23, added: "Moyra was not only a colleague, she was an amazing role model and friend.

She will always have a special place in my heart."

The pair will stage a fun day for all ages in the Loch Centre on 3 July to kick off their efforts.

A 500 donation will be presented by Mrs Tully's husband Brian, 42, from his company Buckstone Roofing Ltd.

Mrs Tully and Miss McGregor plan to stage a variety of fundraisers, including under-16 discos, psychic evenings and sponsored events.

Mrs Tully said: "We know it's a lot of money so we're not setting a deadline. We will just keep going until we get there."

They have already received support from Mrs McNeil's colleagues, including centre manager Craig Lamb, who said: "The current soft play is a bit dated and we'd love to see it revamped into a facility that Moyra would have approved of."

Moyra's daughter Linsey, 25, has also backed the campaign.

She said: "Craig called me to let me know and I just burst into tears. I was so incredibly touched."

A fundraising "Moyra Meter" will be displayed at thecentre to chart the pair's success.

Anyone who would like to make a donation should e-mail [email protected]