The Blackpool Tower shone orange last week in honour of a local couple whose charity work has transformed the lives of children in Kenya. The tribute recognised Sue and Dave Hayward, who founded the organisation Children of Watamu, and will see one of Britain’s most famous landmarks lit up to celebrate their efforts. As BBC News reports, the event also marks what would have been Sue’s 76th birthday, following her death in 2021.
Sue and Dave, both from Blackpool, first visited Kenya more than two decades ago. What began as a holiday quickly turned into something much bigger. Shocked by the poverty they saw and the number of children living without parents or access to school, they decided to act. In 2000 they began supporting small community projects and, within a few years, set up a permanent home for children in Watamu, on Kenya’s coast.
That home grew into the Happy House, now providing care and education for around 55 children. The charity also runs a sponsorship programme linking Kenyan children with supporters in the UK, helping to pay for schooling, clothing, and healthcare. Dave has continued the work since Sue’s passing, travelling between Lancashire and Kenya to oversee the charity and keep her legacy alive.
The decision to light up the tower came after local supporters nominated the couple for recognition. Dave said the orange glow was the perfect choice, as it matches the charity’s colours and reflects the warmth Sue brought to her work. “She’d have been absolutely over the moon,” he said, adding that the tribute would help raise awareness for the children the organisation continues to support.
The couple’s connection to Blackpool has always been strong. They ran a hotel in the town for many years before selling it and dedicating themselves full-time to charity work. Dave has often said that the lessons they learned from running a small business, such as patience, budgeting, and community, helped them build a successful charity thousands of miles away.
Carrying on her legacy
Children of Watamu has supported hundreds of children since it began. Many of those who once lived at the Happy House have gone on to university or found stable jobs, something Dave says was always his wife’s greatest hope. One of the most remarkable success stories is that of a former resident who joined the Kenyan Navy, a symbol of how far the children’s lives can change with the right support.
Dave, now 83, plans to continue the work for as long as he can, saying he still feels Sue’s presence in everything the charity does. “The kids call her ‘Mama Sue’,” he told the BBC, “and they still talk about her every day. The tower lighting is for her, but it’s really for them, too.”
For Blackpool, the lighting is both a gesture of respect and a reminder that compassion can reach well beyond local boundaries. It’s easy to see the town’s tower as a symbol of entertainment, tourism and bright lights, but on this occasion, its glow represents something quieter: kindness, endurance and the determination of two people who decided not to look away when faced with hardship.
The orange illumination will only last a night, but the story behind it will linger. It tells of a couple who swapped the comfort of home for years of hands-on charity work, and of a community proud enough to honour them in lights.
As the tower shines over the seafront, it will do more than brighten the skyline. It will carry Sue’s legacy into the night, a reminder that one couple from Lancashire changed lives half a world away simply by caring enough to try.