Angel of Redcatch Park Tributes flow for community hero Karen

TRIBUTES have been paid to a woman who dedicated time every day to pick up litter in her local park, who has died from cancer months after a surprise party to celebrate her efforts.

- Tristan CORK

Karen Rich at a surprise party to celebrate her efforts

(Pic: Paul Gillis)

Karen Rich was dubbed the Angel of Redcatch Park after the Knowle resident became a familiar face with her litter-picker and rubbish bag, quietly picking up the rubbish every day.

Last summer, modest Karen was surprised by her neighbours and park volunteers with a party and a trip to City Hall to be awarded a prestigious Lord Mayor's Medal to honour her services to the community.

The heartwarming moment she walked into her surprise party was captured by Post photographer Paul Gillis, as years of doing something valuable on a daily basis were recognised with a big 'thank you' from her local community.

Back in the 2010s, Karen decided something needed to be done about the amount of litter in her much-loved Redcatch Park, and following the adage that if you want a job done properly, you've got to do it yourself, she decided to simply carry around a litter picker and a rubbish bag on her daily walk around the park.