Chester's First Ladies of broadcasting Lucy Meacock and Louise Minchin attended a fundraising lunch in memory of a courageous mum who died of cancer aged just 45.

Nicola Bevan, from Boughton , was honoured at Chester Business Club Ladies Valentine's Lunch at the Abode hotel where a fabulous raffle raised £1,190 for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

Nicola was treated at the Wirral -based Clatterbridge Cancer Centre it supports with an amazing £25,000 generated so far.

Nicola, who lived with husband Edward and their children aged three and six, raised almost £10,000 of the total before her sad death in November. She organised a unique fundraising event combining her love of barre (a form of pilates) with a brunch and an auction.

Her family have vowed to carry on the fundraising in her name.

Nicola Bevan, left, with her sister Danielle Ogilby

Sister Danielle Ogilby bravely spoke at the Valentine’s Lunch organised by Chester Business Club vice chair Julie Swinnerton which also supported a number of other local good causes.

She is grateful to everyone who supported the event including Chester’s two famous TV journalists – ITV Granada’s Lucy Meacock and BBC Breakfast’s Louise Minchin – pictured by Ian Southerin of Location Photography.

“Lucy and Louise both attended and are both beautiful people,” said Danielle, who explained that she and her sister grew up in North Wales with their mum Lynn.

Nicola, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2017, believed she had fought off the disease early last year after being given the all clear.

But Nicola suffered two seizures while on holiday in Spain last April which was discovered to be an aggressive form of cancer on the brain.

Danielle continued: “Nicola, being the unbelievably strong character she was, vowed not to let the news devastate her but to turn her experience into a positive by helping to raise money for Clatterbridge by holding various fundraising events including Barre Pilates Brunch at Opera Grill in July in which £10,000 was raised and a further £15,000 in her memory since.

Lucy Meacock and Louise Minchin with Chester Business Club vice chair Julie Swinnerton at the Ladies Valentine's Lunch. Picture by Ian Southerin of Location Photography - www.locationphotography.co.uk

“Unfortunately, by October 2018 Nicola was admitted to Clatterbridge where she was told they could no longer treat her as the cancer had spread further on to the surface of her brain and on the 8th November, she passed away with her family by her side.”

Several more fundraisers are confirmed.

Danielle is organising the same Barre Pilates Brunch at Opera Grill on the July 6 this year. While Nicola’s husband Edward is organising a Sportsman’s lunch with details to be confirmed.

She added: “Nicola always had a keen eye for fashion and style and one of our dear family friends, hairdresser James Roberts, has chosen to hold a large charity ball and hair show in Manchester later this year for Clatterbridge in Nicola’s name and is hoping to raise between £5,000-£10,000 in her honour.”

To help, visit Danielle’s JustGiving page .