Sophie Sheehan

A stalwart of the Reading Pride community, who sadly passed away in May, Sophie Sheehan “was and will always be a hero to so many people everywhere.”

“She stood for equality, kindness and love towards all,” added her nominator for the Local Hero award sponsored by Green Park.

“Sophie was an activist in the Reading Pride committee and helped so many people struggling with their own identity,” they said.

“She saved countless lives accepting people for who they are and showing them through her own life that there is acceptance and love in our Reading community, and being yourself is something to live for and be proud of.”

They added Sophie faced many challenges, and confrontation from others, “but she always handled every situation with the utmost grace and respect.”

She was a huge live music fan and supporter of local talent, attending every gig in the area she could get to, buying merchandise to help fund local artists and hosting nights to showcase the local talent she admired.

She also hosted the Pride Alive stage at Reading Pride and arranged countless fundraisers for many different charities and donated monthly to many more.

Sophie’s funeral was attended by more than 200 people, with 200 people on the live stream.

“She had a standing ovation of two- and-a-half minutes of applause that day, she is so many people’s inspiration and heroine.”