A LOCAL charity helped an 80-year-old woman fulfil her dream of visiting one of her favourite places in the world -– the top of the Worcestershire Beacon.

Last September, the Worcester News sister paper the Malvern Gazette reported how Trudi Howson, of Pershore, yearned to revisit the Malvern Hills, where she spent so many happy hours when she was younger.

Community Action Malvern and District’s Minibus co-ordinator Sarah Kilburn, read the article and knew the charity could help Mrs Howson so she fired off a few e-mails to other members of staff and also to the Malvern Hills Conservators and a plan was formulated, much to Mrs Howson’s delight.

Unfortunately the weather was against them by the time everything was arranged and the trip was put on hold until this summer.

However, Mrs Howson’s dream came true when she did indeed not only go up the hills, but right to the summit of the Beacon itself.

To make sure everything went to plan, the Conservators led the way and Mrs Howson was driven in one of Community Action’s wheelchair-adapted cars. Once they reached the top, Mrs Howson was able to admire the view and enjoy a glass of celebratory champagne.

She said: “It was absolutely lovely to visit the Malvern Hills again.

“When I was a little girl, we lived in Stocks Lane in Leigh Sinton, and we used to go walking on the hills all the time. I’ve visited lots of places, but I’ve always thought of the hills as ‘my Malverns’.

“The only thing I was sad about is that the little hut where you could sit down and have a cup of coffee has gone but it was still lovely to be on top of the Beacon one more time. “I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me to do it.”

If you would like to volunteer to help Community Action help more people like Mrs Howson, ring 01684 892381.