Davina (also known as David) Hinchliffe
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of one of our much loved friends and member Davina Hinchliffe, also known to many of you as David.
From Mel at Disability Equality……….
Davina was the very first member of staff for Disability Equality (nw) Ltd, back in 1996 when we were known as Preston Information Project, a small project based initially in Moor Lane Resource Centre.
Although Davina’s employment only lasts a year, her relationship with us lasted a lot longer, she was a Volunteer supporting many different services over the years, a Trustee, a Hate Crime Ambassador, a proficient trainer and guest speaker and a good friend to many of us until the day she died.
Davinia loved to chat and she loved to laugh, her enthusiasm for life was infectious and you always knew when she was in the room – she was very caring, regularly asking how we were and calling in to see us just to say hello.
People described Davinia as being a real ‘character’ and that’s exactly what she was – a huge character who met life’s challenges head on and, whilst life wasn’t always easy for her, she lived her life being herself and enjoyed it – always evident by her big smile and infectious laugh – she touched the lives of everyone she met – and you would always come away smiling.
We will miss her a lot.
Rest in Peace Davina.
From Denise at the VI Forum…………….
David was a long standing member of the visual impairment forum for the Lancashire area, he took great pride in all his volunteer work,
Where he used his voice to help improve services that impacts the daily lives of others in Lancashire
I first met David back in 2016 when I was new to sight loss, he reached out to me at a Preston Macular Society group meeting, that day change my life, he helped me navigate this new world I had to adapt to and oh boy did he do a good job! It was the start of a great friendship.
He worked on many pieces of work, he didn’t do this for awards or applause, he just got on with it knowing the biggest accolade was the difference we made together.
E.g.
The Lancashire Street charter piloted in Preston, he was so proud of the work we had done together with Lancashire County Council and Preston city council improving access for all, he was delighted the difference it made to the city in particular Orchard Street.
He shared his hate crime story widely even though this was difficult for him reliving it, he did so to raise awareness and encourage others to speak out in the hope it would stop others going through the trauma he had suffered
He was a big advocate for accessible information in preferred format he would share his experience with various service providers being a brailist, he took great pleasure in opening the conversations with I have a superpower I can read in the dark, it always made people laugh .
He shared his creative talent with projects at The Harris Museum
He was known for all of the above before he changed his name. I was so proud of all he had achieved, he knew that was why I called him David not Davina and he understood .
Above all else he was a friend to all who knew him, a heart of gold always with kindness and understanding, he will never be forgotten.
Rest in Peace David, heaven has gained a bright shining star.
A celebration of Davina’s life is being organised for Thursday 9th May (her birthday), 1pm – 3pm.
Further details will be circulated nearer the time.
