Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall nominated for Mum Of The Year award

Oct 11 2012 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Echo

THE chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group was shortlisted for a mum of the year award.

Margaret Aspinall was nominated for the Tesco Mum Of The Year Awards 2013 for her work campaigning for justice for the 96 who lost their lives at the 1989 disaster.

She was nominated by Karen Howard, who does not know Mrs Aspinall but was inspired by her campaigning work.

The news came as Mrs Aspinall and other HFSG members prepare to travel to London next week to give evidence to the home affairs committee, which is taking evidence after the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel last month.

The committee meets on Tuesday and will also hear from chief constable David Crompton, of South Yorkshire police, which was exposed for its shameful role in the disaster cover- up.

Today Mrs Aspinall, who lost her 18-year-old son James at Hillsborough, said she was humbled by the award nomination.

She said: “It is nice to think this lady nominated me.

“I am sure there are more deserving people than me. I am humbled to think somebody thinks I deserve it.”

The awards, the largest of their kind, will take place in March at London’s Savoy hotel. Margaret, of Huyton, was selected from among thousands of nominations from all over the UK.

Deborah Murray, from Ince Blundell, was also shortlisted after being nominated by her daughter Chloe, 11.

When Deborah found out that her husband was suffering with Alzheimer’s, she founded The Banana Alzheimer’s Society – inspired by the fact that bananas are good for the brain – to help others in the same situation.

Barbara English was also nominated by daughter Lynette O’Connor for running a voluntary dance group in Skelmersdale for the past 25 years.

Paul Morris, of Tesco, said: “We are extremely proud to be holding the Mum Of The Year Awards for the eighth year.

“We have heard many truly incredible stories and it has been a privilege to recognise these inspirational women.”