Ann Lush, 86, was raised alongside her brother by her grandmother, who was widowed during World War Two, and said her childhood inspired her lifelong commitment to helping young people. Lush, from Penarth, said she had promised herself: "If I ever had a home of my own, everybody could come to it." She has now raised more than £130,000 for The Children's Society through Penarth Open Gardens, which she started with her late husband Dennis in 1996, charging £1 per head to enter her garden. Not just through the open gardens, because I've had strawberry teas, I've had barbecues, I've had garage sales. It really, really has," she said.