After the grief, the joy
MUM’S TRIBUTE TO TRAGIC BOXER ON FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH
CRADLING her grandchild, grieving mum Rebecca Marshall reminisces about her boxer son on the first anniversary of his death.
Scott Westgarth died on February 26 last year and his family are paying tribute as they show off his newly-born niece to the world.
Scott’s brother Adam named his daughter Rose as the flower was the last present he gave Scott when he laid a white one on his coffin.
And on January 2, Scott gave his Rose back in the shape of a baby girl, weighing 8lb 14oz.
“She lightens up the atmosphere, little Rose lightens the whole house. She’s beautiful and Scotty is looking after her,” said Rebecca, of Prudhoe, Northumberland (pictured right with Rose).
“The last thing Adam gave Scott was a white rose when he placed it on his coffin and now Scotty has given him a rose back in the shape of his daughter.
“She’s beautiful and I know Scott will be proud.”
Scott, who had moved to Sheffield, died after winning his last fight on February 24.
He was rushed to hospital after falling ill backstage following his victory over Dec Spelman at the Doncaster Dome and his death was confirmed two days later.
The former Prudhoe Community High School pupil was cremated at Grenoside Crematorium in Sheffield in May.
His coffin was draped in a Newcastle United shirt signed by Rafa Benitez and players, and among the mourners was County Durham’s former IBF cruiserweight world champion Glenn McCrory.
Adam, 35, of Prudhoe, said: “When Scotty passed away, Catey and I wanted to start a family straight away because you just don’t know what is around the corner.
“When Catey was pregnant we never wanted to know if it was going to be a girl or boy – we wanted it to be a surprise.
“If it was a boy we would have called him Scott and if it was a girl we chose Rose because it was the last thing I gave him.
“I gave him the white rose because it represents a time of new beginnings, virginal, pure, the start of new things. And Scotty has given us another rose back.”
On July 10 last year, on what would have been Scott’s 32nd birthday, his family unveiled a memorial seat in his name in his home town of Prudhoe. And it is there they will go today on the anniversary of his death. Rebecca, 58, who also has son Lewis, 21, and daughter Bethannie, 24, added: “We will go to the seat and have a few words with him. “We’ll take some flowers and then we will go to the pub and see his friends and some old faces. “I go to the seat every week and have a chat with him. I know he’s here and watching over us.” Chef Adam has dedicated his arm to his brother after getting a tattoo sleeve in his honour.
Created by tattoo artist Gari Henderson at Masamune Tattoos in Whickham, Gateshead, it shows Scott’s portraits, pictures, a quote, a tartan and roses – and it’s something Adam cherishes.
Adam added: “I have little Rose but it is upsetting that she can’t ever meet him, she will never get to meet her uncle Scott.
“He will always be there with her, looking after her, but she will never get to meet him.”
In Scott’s final fight he won on points, but was knocked down during the bout. He took part in post-fight interviews before paramedics were called to help him as his condition deteriorated.
Part-time chef and personal trainer Scott, who had also tried his hand as a footballer before turning to boxing, collapsed in his dressing room before being rushed to hospital.
His organs were donated and mum Rebecca said her son had saved the lives of seven people.
Scott had won seven of his ten professional fights. He had no amateur career and did not pick up a pair of gloves until he was 24 after years of working as a ski instructor.
His death saddened the sporting world, and boxing greats such as Frank Bruno and Ricky Hatton took to social media to pay tribute to light heavyweight Scott.