Community rallies round Great Yarmouth cancer patient after her wall was knocked over
Ann Martin was helped by the police. Photo: Great Yarmouth Police/Facebook - Credit: Archant
A woman with terminal cancer whose front wall was knocked over while she was in hospital has had it rebuilt thanks to a combined community effort.
Ann Martin reported the incident to the police when she discovered the damage on her property on Wolseley Road in Great Yarmouth.
She had just arrived home after a church meeting on Wednesday, April 5.
PC David Howarth and a PCSO Norris visited Mrs Martin at her home and removed all the loose brick work from the wall and the damaged bricks that had been left in the front garden.
With the assistance of Great Yarmouth police's Cobholm and Southtown safer neighbourhood team, the local community, businesses and college students, Mrs Martin's wall was fixed and new coping slabs were put in place.
PC Howarth said: 'We're hoping to have some flowers donated by B&Q which can be planted in her front garden to complete the effect shortly.'
She recently visited Guernsey to her niece's wedding and police liaised with the college to arrange for the students to do her hair for the trip and it was said she was 'over the moon' by the community effort.
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The work to repair her wall was completed on Friday, 21 July.
PC Howarth said the items were kindly donated by B&Q and college students carried out the work.
The 74-year-old has terminal cancer and was at the hospital at the time of the incident to receive treatment.
She believes the attack over the Easter holidays was believed to be by youngsters.
She had no-one to help her clear up the mess and was anxious about what could happen leading to her feeling worried about leaving her house.
At the time she had said it was 'heartbreaking' and 'so unfair' what had happened.
Mrs Martin has seven children, 18 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
She moved to Great Yarmouth with her husband Charlie 14 years ago.
Most of her family and friends live in the Sussex/Brighton area, her husband's death leaving her on her own.
Anyone with information on the damage to the wall can call Norfolk police on 101.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
