After losing battle with cancer, Graham Godwin's legacy will survive with annual trophy in his name

Graham Godwin was a skilled painter and decorator who was known for taking pride in his work and having a genuine passion for the trade, running a thriving business as a ‘master craftsman’.

But he fell ill with a mysterious condition which caused one of his arms to swell up and gave him considerable discomfort.

Eventually he was told he had lung cancer, after an earlier misdiagnosis, and following a short spell in hospital he died on May 30 2020, aged 66.

Graham’s partner, Barbara Gorecki, wanted to pay a lasting tribute to him – and in his memory she has set up a special annual award, the Graham Godwin Award, recognising talented painting and decorating students at Blackpool and the Fylde College.

Last week, a presentation was held at the college campus in Bispham in which the award – and a second trophy, the David Seeley Joes Trophy – were handed out for the first time.

The Graham Godwin award was presented to Cameron Clark for Outstanding Painting and Decorating student of the year.

The David Seeley-Jones trophy was awarded to Lee Jefferies for his impressive achievements on the course, which is led by lecturer Amanda Borrino.

Both also received a small, additional award from Blackpool and the Fylde College, which they will be able to keep.

Barbara, 63, of Fairhaven Avenue, Normoss, said: “Graham was my world.

"I wanted to carry on his memory for his true love and passion for the trade.

"He really did have a talent and it was recognised early on – he won the Leyland Paint Decorator of the Year and the Bradley Trophy as a keen student at Palatine College.

"Graham went on to have a great career in painting and decorating but he always wanted to give something back and he ended up teaching as well, passing on the skills he had learned when he ran a course at Palatine College.”

She added: “I just want to thank Blackpool and the Fylde College for all their support in keeping the legacy alive.”