Julie's the best mum in Barry (From Barry And District News)

Julie's the best mum in Barry

THE BARRY and District News has found the best mum in town.

Deserving mother-of-three Julie Milne was nominated by her youngest daughter Charlotte, 10, after we started searching for the most worthy person to be treated as a VIP for a day, courtesy of the revamped Woolworth store in Holton Road.

The letter sent to the News was decorated with hearts, as Charlotte wrote: "My mum is the best in the world because she has had three back operations with more to come. She looks after me, Sarah, 16, and Ben, 19, since dad died 10 years ago. I love mum."

Julie, of Wenvoe Terrace, has dealt with a host of personal tragedies. But not only does she keep on smiling, she is known for her charity work as well.

She said: "My first marriage was very unhappy and I was left with physical scars. I divorced him and married Gordon, who was a lovely man.

"But six months to the day after we were married, he was killed on Five Mile Lane. Charlotte was only nine months old.

"Seven years after he died, my brother Paul was killed in a road accident in West Wales.

"I've had two brain tumours removed, cancer cut out of my arm and several operations on my spine, forcing me to use a wheelchair on my bad days. And three weeks ago I was told I need a hysterectomy.

"So when I received the call from Woolworth telling me I'd been chosen as the 'best mum in Barry', I couldn't stop smiling."

For putting her mum's name forward, Charlotte was given £50 to spend in store and Julie will get £100.

She opened the new-look Woolworth yesterday after a champagne breakfast and a tour around the shop.

But, Julie laughed: "Sadly, I had to have lemonade. I can't drink alcohol because of all the painkillers I take. But it has been a smashing day and I'm glad my kids could share it with me."