Blundeston: Brain tumour widow prepares for Wear A Hat Day

Barbara Shaw’s husband Colin died in August 2010, aged 71, just 12 months after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM).

Ever since then the grandmother-of-five, from Blundeston, near Lowestoft, has supported the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Mrs Shaw, who is also a parish councillor, WI vice president and churchwarden, said: "We stopped to have lunch in a pub after delivering Meals on Wheels one day and Colin collapsed as we were leaving.

"We found out he had suffered a seizure and had a GBM on the motor strip in his frontal lobe, which they couldn’t do anything for."

The 81-year-old lived overseas with Colin for four years during his time in the Merchant Navy and had been married to him for 47 years.

Colin Shaw. Picture: The Shaw family (Image: The Shaw family)

She and their three daughters were with him at home when he died.

"It was heartbreaking," she said.

Barbara Shaw. Picture: The Shaw family (Image: The Shaw family)

Each year, Mrs Shaw hosts Brain Tumour Research's flagship Wear A Hat Day fundraiser, which is supported by Waveney MP, Peter Aldous.

She said: "I asked him if he’d come the first time and he’s been coming ever since."

Waveney MP Peter Aldous celebrating Wear A Hat Day with Barbara Shaw and Doug Youngs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Barbara Shaw)

Mrs Shaw added: "I’m also grateful to Doug Youngs.

"He’s from a nearby village and his wife Jean was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the same time as Colin, but hers wasn’t as aggressive and she helped with the fundraising until she died five years ago."

Wear A Hat Day events see people don hats of all shapes and sizes on the last Friday in March - but Mrs Shaw, who will be colouring her hair bright pink for the occasion, is hosting the event a day later.

It is at Blundeston Village Hall from 10am to 12.30pm on April 1 and will feature refreshments, a tombola and a bring-and-buy stall.