TRIBUTES are being paid to “true community champion” Colin “Wolfe” Whitfield, another member of the Warrington Disability Partnership team who has sadly died from COVID-19 related illness.
A key member of the WDP team Colin, from Burtonwood, Warrington, will be sadly missed by many as one of the charity’s larger than life characters.
“He was a wonderful man who helped anybody he could. Nothing was too much trouble,” said his wife Ann, who he actually met while helping her fill out forms at the Warrington Disability Partnership offices – they became the charity’s first couple to tie the knot. “Whatever people needed doing he would do it,” added Ann, Nothing was too much trouble. He was a wonderful guy.
The couple who met nearly 10 years ago at WDP would have been celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary in July.
Colin joined WDP back in 1991, originally as a volunteer Disability Advisor on the telephones, later at the Market Disability Information Desk, Shopmobility and at community events. He was trained to be a Welfare Benefits Advisor, and helped hundreds of disabled people to secure much needed benefits.
Paying tribute to Colin, WDP Chief Executive Dave Thompson said: “Colin had a skill to be able to work with anyone and everyone, he played a large part in our work around advising and influencing better building designs around access and facilities. One of his biggest projects was the Warrington Bus Interchange, where Colin convinced the designers to include a Changing Places style toilet. In recognition of his efforts Network Warrington named one of their buses in his honour. His work stretched well beyond Warrington, across the northwest. Millions of disabled people have benefited because of Colin’s efforts.
“Colin also delivered Disability Awareness Training to businesses, colleges and schools. He brought his wicked sense of humour to his training, making audiences laugh and cry within minutes. Always getting the WDP message across that it’s what we can do that matters.
“At Disability Awareness Day Colin was a key member of the team up at Walton Gardens, and as a Steward on the big day, after the set up Colin would change clothes and take to the stage in the Arts Marquee singing with Wired for Sound community choir, then he would be off to the Sports Zone helping run the Curling Lane. Like me, Colin was proud to be able to share his volunteering at DAD with his family, initially his son Paul and later, Craig.
“As much of the clean up at DAD involved physical work, Colin and I competed to see how many cable ties we could collect after the marquees were dismantled….. Colin’s competitive streak was ever evident, counting each and every one.
Dave added: “Sports was a passion we both shared, with Warrington Wolves Disability Sports Club at the Dallam Day Centre, but Colin went on to much bigger things, representing Wales, competing in the World Curling Championships in Prague. Colin played a huge part in the local Disability Sports Club DISC that was based a Great Sankey Forum. It was befitting that his efforts were recognised by the judging panel of the Warrington Sports Awards.
“Colin was a man for the big stage, stewarding at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, singing at the 2015 Super League Final, nothing phased him. I do remember embarrassing myself at a WDP Karaoke doing a duet with Colin, but it was a total mismatch, Colin’s deep and in tune voice and my no pitch out of tune voice……
“It was nice to watch Colin grow in confidence when he met the love of his life Ann at the a centre for Independent Living. Little did we know that it was to become the first WDP marriage. I remember Colin telling a group of us that he was so proud when Ann agree to be his wife. She was his rock, and brought love, warmth and happiness to Colin’s life.
“Colin was a true friend, always smiling, loved his hugs, always up for a laugh, hard working, a pleasure to be around. He leaves a legacy of change that has improved the lives of thousands of disabled peoples lives, he also leaves a hole in the hearts of our team, but we have so many happy memories of our times together.”
It is proposed to dedicate the next Disability Awareness Day in Colin’s memory, alongside that of Peter Ives, another member of the WDP family, who was sadly lost a few weeks ago to COVID-19.
Colin (centre) with members of team WDP
