A family has paid tribute to a "caring" and "sparkly" children's author who grew up in Huntingdonshire and passed away aged 41 after a short battle with cancer.
For her dying wish, Melanie asked that any royalties received from her death onwards go to Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in Cornwall as thanks for all the support she received after her diagnosis in December 2022.
Melanie had also arranged for a celebration of her life to take place instead of a funeral as a way for her to take back some of the control cancer stole from her, ensuring she passed away on her own terms.
Memorabilia collected by Melanie throughout her colourful, exciting and well-travelled life will be sold for small donations at the event to raise money for the Sue Ryder and Mount Edgcumbe Hospices.
Melanie's mum Maxine Crouch said on behalf of the family: "Mel achieved many great things in her sadly shortened life, in particular, writing her book and seeing the world whilst working on the cruise ships.
"She made friends across the world and left a lasting impact with her fun and caring nature.
"We are so proud of all of Mel's achievements and know that her sparkle will live on in our hearts."
Captain Glitterbeard
Melanie, known fondly by her friends and family as 'Mel', was born on January 15, 1982, in the old maternity hospital on Primrose Lane in Huntingdon.
READ MORE: March rainfall high but flooding in 1947 was "worst in living memory"
'Mel' spent her childhood in Warboys with her brother Daniel and sister Penny, moving to Sawtry briefly aged 19 before settling in Peterborough, where she worked for 15 years.
"Small in height but big in personality," Mel was always very happy and independent and had recently set off on an exciting adventure working in luxury retail on a cruise ship and travelling the world.
After Swimming with dolphins in Mexico and zip-lining through the Costa Rican jungle, Mel returned home just before the lockdown and homeschooled her niece Emily, who had just started school.
To get Emily into the topics she was supposed to be doing, Mel used her creative imagination and experiences to write the children's book Captain Glitter Beard and the Three Mermaids, published by Austin Macauley Publishers, making learning more fun.
Mel was "brilliant" at anything she turned her hand to, and the book has since been distributed worldwide and is now sold in several book retailers, including Waterstones and WHS Smith.
After homeschooling Emily and buoyed by the reaction to her book, Mel moved to Falmouth in Cornwall in January 2022 after she fell in love with the area when she visited a friend.
Celebration of life
The celebration of life event will be held on May 4 at the Chalkboard in Peterborough and feature a whole host of Mel's memorabilia that all friends and family will recognise and reminisce.
Mel loved anything to do with crafts and would frequently go to craft shows, make handmade cards, do diamond paintings and use her fine eye for detail to make all sorts of creations.
As an avid Spice Girl fan and music lover, a plethora of concert memorabilia will also be on display and available for a small donation.
The profits will be shared with Sue Ryder Hospice in Thorpe Hall, Peterborough, as they helped care for Mel when she chose to be nearer to friends and family in Cambridgeshire following her treatment.
The event will help put Mel's wishes in place, allow everyone to share in her memory, and remember her for the bright and sparkly person she was.
Everyone is welcome to attend the celebration, and if you wish to buy a copy of the book, you can find it by visiting www.austinmacauley.com/book/captain-glitter-beard-and-three-mermaids.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here