GREATER Leys residents have completed the dream of a woman who died last year.

Carrie Hetherington, former director of city dementia charity Daybreak, passed away before her vision of a sensory garden at the charity’s base could be finished.

But members of an over-50s gardening club have completed the work at The Clockhouse, a community centre for over-50s in Nightingale Avenue, Greater Leys.

They have dedicated the garden’s focal point, a fountain, to Mrs Hetherington, who passed away last August aged 57 after a short illness.

Kaye Ellis, who over saw the work and set up the gardening club, said it was a fitting tribute to Mrs Hetherington.

The 78-year-old Russell House resident said: “I think that she would be absolutely thrilled with it.

“I think it’s exactly what she was hoping it would be and she would be over-the-moon if she saw it.

“It’s such a shame she is not here, it really is.”

She added: “The garden looks absolutely beautiful and I’m really, really pleased with it.

“I think people will get a lot of pleasure and relaxation from it.”

The gardening club, which meets at The Clockhouse, started work after Mrs Hetherington, from near Thame, suggested the idea 18 months ago.

It features sweet-smelling and colourful flowers in eight beds, seating areas, trees and a fountain.

It cost about £500 with the volunteers raising cash from charitable donations and fundraising events, including jumble sales, car boot sales and craft fairs.

Club member Reg Curnock, 75, of Brambling Way, said: “It looks lovely but it has been hard work.

“Getting rid of the old garden was the most challenging part. It was really overgrown.”

He added: “There are people at the community centre that have dementia and we hope this will be a big help to them.

“The smells, sights and touches will trigger off their memories of their youth or parents.”