After James passed away, Heather played a vital role in ensuring every life limited, life threatened and severely disabled young child in Gloucestershire would receive desperately needed support and free nursing respite care. Heather’s vision was to offer care and support for families in a home from home environment filled with magic memories, laughter and love, with the help of her family and close friends she achieved her dream and so much more.

Hundreds of Gloucestershire’s families have greatly benefitted from Heather’s vision, hard work and her kind & selfless heart, but Heather has always remained humble about her achievements and shied away from publicity because what she did was always for love.

In September, we were truly privileged to welcome Heather, Vance and Sophie as guests of honour for James Hopkins Trust’s 30th anniversary celebrations – it gave us all great pleasure to see them reunited with old friends and supporters of their charity.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff and families we would like to say the love, respect and gratitude for the whole Hopkins family has only grown stronger over the years and we are holding Heather’s family closely in our heart and thoughts at this very sad time.