Tributes to 'ray of sunshine' and devoted mum Lucy Huggins who grew up in New Milton

REMEMBERED as a “ray of sunshine” who made friends wherever she went, tributes have been paid to 36-year-old mum Lucy Huggins who grew up in New Milton.

Lucy, who attended Durlston Court School followed by the Arnewood School, was diagnosed in her teens with the autoimmune condition lupus.

She died at Southampton General Hospital on Sunday 8th January.

Since then, a fundraising webpage set up in her memory to support her husband and young sons has already gathered more than £7,500.

Lucy’s mother, Sue Cole, told the A&T: “Lucy was fun loving and outgoing. She loved a party but she was also very thoughtful and caring to those around her.

“She really was a ray of sunshine making friends wherever she went.

“But being a mum was her greatest role – she knew the risks to her health but for her it was worth it. She adored her boys and was incredibly proud of them.”

Despite spells of ill health, Lucy held down Saturday jobs at the local Tesco store and Yachtmail in Lymington in her student years.

Subsequent roles in her later life included account manager at the Richmond Group and Nationwide Building Society in Bournemouth, and retail jobs at Next and Waitrose.

Her greatest achievement, which brought her immense joy, was having her three young sons Harrison (5), Oliver (2) and Joshua (1).

Lucy contracted Covid soon after Joshua’s birth and struggled to make a full recovery, becoming increasingly unwell in autumn last year.

After returning home for Christmas with her family, she was rushed back into hospital in early January where her condition deteriorated.

Lucy was born in November 1986 to parents Rob and Sue. She spent her early years in Mudeford and, alongside her older sister Nicola, attended Durlston Court School in Barton, where her dad was director of sport and her mum also worked.

Both sisters excelled at sports, with Lucy taking part in many county events in netball, hockey, tennis and athletics. On one occasion, she won five gold medals at a five counties athletics event on the Isle of Wight. She was an all-rounder enjoying all aspects of school life.

At the Arnewood School, Lucy’s love of sport continued and she also played for New Forest Hockey Club.

Her health declined and soon after starting college she was diagnosed with lupus which causes joint pain, skin rashes, tiredness and organ damage.

With daily medication, Lucy lived life to the full and spent a fun summer working in Magaluf in her early 20s.

In 2013 Lucy and Nicola bought a house together in Charminster, and the following year she met her future husband Sean.

Nicola recalled: “Sean was her hero – she knew very soon he was the one for her.”

The couple were engaged in New York in November 2015 and married at the chapel at Durlston Court School the following summer. Their honeymoon was spent cruising the Mediterranean.

In 2017, Lucy and Sean bought their own house in Poole. Soon after, their first son Harrison was born three months early, leading to a lengthy stay at Southampton’s Princess Anne Hospital and then Poole Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Mum Sue said: “Lucy couldn’t speak highly enough of the NICU team and she made so many incredible friends through her time in hospital with Harrison.

“Whenever there was a cake sale or any fundraising event she was always back there supporting them and raising money.”

Despite the health challenges she faced, Lucy loved being a mum and was thrilled when the family grew with the arrival of Oliver in 2020, and then Joshua in January last year.

Following her death, close friend Becky Rixon, with the support of numerous friends, launched a webpage for Lucy and Sean’s young sons.

Lucy’s funeral will be at the New Forest Crematorium in New Milton followed by a reception at Bashley Village Hall, with details to be arranged.

Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-lucy-huggins or to Lupus UK.