"Every community needs a Dena": Tributes to selfless charity champion who's died aged 96

An multiple award-winning community and charity champion from north Manchester has died aged 96. Dena Murphy, a well-known and hugely respected former nurse, was a long-standing chair of a volunteer organisation based in New Moston.

NEPHRA Good Neighbours works in the community to reduce isolation and loneliness. Dena, a great-grandmother, created an allotment from derelict land more than two decades ago and used it to grow produce and foster a love of gardening in the young and old alike through teaching sessions.

Produce grown on her allotment is used for lunch clubs through the organisation. It's understood she passed away last week, with dozens of tributes now pouring in praising her selfless contribution to life in north Manchester and its residents.

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One tribute on Facebook said: "God bless Dena, a true legend of New Moston." "Really sad news. Every community needs a Dena. She left a huge legacy and made such an impact," said another post.

Dena, a former Royal Horticultural Society gold medal winner, dedicated her life to helping people.

She worked as a nurse from 1946 in the first NHS Hospital - Trafford General - before turning her hobby of gardening into a charitable endeavour. Her allotment has also been used to help hundreds of young offenders get their lives back on track though the Community Payback scheme.

She's credited with helping more than 300 offenders complete community service orders by teaching them allotment gardening - with many coming back to her plot to help out after their orders had ended.

Dena was also an ambassador the for the city's Age Friendly work. She won a Pride of Manchester award in 2019 and has also won a Prime Minister's Points of Light award.

The organisation said: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our beloved Dena Murphy. Dena was the chair of NEPHRA for many years, receiving numerous accolades not only for her incredible gardening skills, but all so for her extensive charity endeavours. She will be sadly missed by all her friends."

Tributes being posted on social media said Dena was 'an inspiration to so many people' and 'passionate about people'.

"A sad loss for our community, she did a tremendous amount for others," read another post.