TRAGEDY has hit a family for the second time in a month.
Just four weeks after his 18-year-old son James died in a snorkelling accident, Chris Sprake is mourning the loss of his mother Irene 'Renee' Sprake.
James died on a family holiday on July 12 in the idyllic Langkawi, Malaysia and on August 11, Renee, of Gosforth Place, Hoole passed away at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Her funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday) and Chris has again had to fly back to Chester to bury a loved one.
Renee had been unable to attend James’ funeral on July 23 due to ill health.
Chris said: “She wasn't able to attend James funeral as she was too weak. Her and James spent time together when we lived in Chester she had a soft spot for all the boys but especially James.”
Once married to president of the Magic Circle and headmaster of Kingsway High School Pat Sprake, Renee was a photographer with the Cheshire Observer and later the Chester Standard. She first lived in Hoole and then moved to Hawarden before moving back to Hoole in her later years.
A disabled boy will benefit from a new wheelchair in the name of James Sprake.
Chris Sprake was due to fly back on September 15 to present the wheelchair to the boy but has been forced to bring forward the handover following the death of his mother.
He has paid £4,000 for the state-of-the-art chair because the severely disabled six-year-old has been refused a wheelchair on the NHS.
Chris is donating the chair through the South Cheshire Masonic Golfing Society.
He had been due to give the chair to the boy during the lodge's centenary celebrations next month.
