This site is a tribute to Linda Padgett. She is much loved and will always be remembered.
Linda was brought up in Wakefield and we married in October 1983. We had two boys, Jonathan and Simon and moved to Pontefract in 1990. Linda was a local childminder and she looked after many local children until we took over the Big Top Play Centre in 2003. Again, she employed many local teenagers (and adults) who were just starting in their working lives, treating them with compassion and respect. We sold the Big Top in 2008 and after this Linda continued to look after children, this time our own grandchildren, Keira who was born in 2011 and step grandchildren Scarlett and Chloe. She was a real sun worshipper and we spent many holidays abroad. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with a malignant melenoma in July 2018. This was treated by St. James for many months, but the cancer spread rapidly and she had spells in St. James, Leeds and Dewsbury Hospital; she spent the last three weeks of her life in the Prince of Wales Hospice and sadly passed away, surrounded by her family, on the 20th June 2019. The standard of care received at the Hospice was superb. The many visitors were treated with respect, nothing was too much trouble and her first weekend coincided with the 30th Anniversary garden party! The family would like to thank the Hospice staff for making the last three weeks of Linda's life so comfortable and assure them we will continue to support this wonderful charity in the future.