YOUR SAY: How best should we remember Denise Robertson?

After crowds turned out to pay their last respects to the much-loved TV agony aunt at her funeral service at Sunderland Minster this week, talk has turned to how the 83-year-old should best be remembered.

Hundreds of you took part in our online poll about whether there should be some kind of memorial to Denise – and what form it should take - with more than two-thirds of readers voting in favour.

And many thought naming a hospital or hospice ward in her memory would be most fitting for a woman who devoted so much of her life to helping those less fortunate.

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, told the Echo: “If there is backing and the fundraising, then a permanent memorial could be another fitting tribute to this remarkable woman.”

Posting on the Echo’s Facebook page, Kayley Marie Anderson said of the memorial idea: “Maybe name a ward after her. She did a lot of charity work. She wasn’t just a person on TV or an agony aunt she did a lot for the less fortunate.”

Claire-louise Merritt posted: “Name a charity or hospital department after her that would be more recognised than a memorial site.”

Karen Hunt posted: “I dont think a ‘monument’ would be appropriate, some good suggestions are ‘Robertson’ Ward in a mental health hospital, or a hospice, and a peaceful bench in Mowbray Park.”

Kirstie Lee-Watson suggested: “Maybe it would be more beneficial to have her linked to charity work as she was very big on this, I don’t think she would have wanted a memorial but rather something that would be more useful.”

Carol Watson wrote: “What about a walk of fame in Mowbray Park using paving stones with their names on? I’m sure it would be a long walk and would get longer as the years go by. The kids could learn about the kind of people Sunderland has given birth to.”

Carole Pullan added: “Possibly a ward in a hospice or hospital named after her would be a more fitting memorial.”

Pauline English welcomed the idea, saying: “Yes she was a great ambassador for Sunderland in the north east, patron for 40 charities, raised thousands of pounds for charity and never forgot where she was brought up.”

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