A young mum who lost her fiancé shortly before their wedding is to use the plans they made together for their big day at a fundraising event in his memory.

Adam Barclay was just 27 when he died of a brain tumour on New Year’s Day, three months before he and Emma Jolly were due to marry.

Now Emma, 24, is organising a ball where guests will be served the menu the couple had carefully selected for the wedding reception which never took place.

Mrs Barclay, who lives in Trident Road, said: “We were so excited about the wedding, the venue was all booked and we had spent many hours planning and dreaming about how it would be.

"What should have been the happiest day of our lives never happened.

“I hope it will be a happy event and that people will enjoy having the chance to dress up and celebrate Adam’s life.

"I know the occasion will be very difficult for me but I am determined to do all I can to raise awareness of brain tumours in the hope of preventing other families from experiencing the dreadful loss which we do.”

Among those attending the event will be many of the friends and family who would have been there to see the couple marry and finishing touches, including decorative sashes and bows on chairs and other table arrangements, will also be in place.

Adam worked as an assistant manager at Penning’s in Greenhill Crescent. The couple have two children, Lola, four, and Parker, one.

Mrs Barclay, who raised £1,000 with a charity abseil in May, marked the day she was due to get married by changing her surname.

Adam was known as “Barx” to his friends and along with friend Emma Scanes, Mrs Barclay is holding Barx’s Ball to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Emma added: “Adam’s symptoms were repeatedly dismissed as nothing serious but as the brain tumour grew, he had a series of massive seizures. Eventually he went into surgery but never woke up.

"We had been planning our wedding but now I’m alone at 24 and our children are left without their daddy.

"Our lives have been destroyed and it is all so unnecessary."

Barx’s Ball for Brain Tumour Research will take place on Saturday, August 27 at The Cloisters in Letchworth.

For more information, email: emma.scanes@hittraining.co.uk.

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research in memory of Adam, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Emma-Jolly3.