Historic Lichfield Site Illuminated in Tribute and Solidarity During National Awareness Campaign.
March 2026 marked Brain Tumour Awareness Month, a national campaign launched in 2004 to raise awareness of brain tumours and highlight the urgent need for greater research and support for those affected.
On 31st March, Sandfields Pumping Station was illuminated in pink and yellow as a show of solidarity with brain tumour patients and their families. The lighting also served as a tribute to Chris Pattison, a Founder Trustee of Lichfield Waterworks Trust, who passed away in 2024 following a brain tumour diagnosis.
Each month, more than 1,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour, and one in three people knows someone who has been affected by the disease. Brain Tumour Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to highlight the impact of this condition and the need for increased investment in research.
This time of year is particularly poignant for those involved with Sandfields Pumping Station. Chris Pattison was a dedicated supporter of the Lichfield Waterworks Trust and its mission to conserve and celebrate the historic site.
He played a key role in raising awareness of Sandfields, helping to bring it to wider attention and ultimately contributing to its survival. Over more than a decade, Chris worked tirelessly to support the project, becoming a founding Trustee in 2015 alongside Gill and David Moore.
For the next nine years, he served as finance manager for the Trust, helping to ensure its long-term sustainability and stability.
Chris’ dedication and enthusiasm made a lasting impact on the ongoing project to protect and share this nationally significant heritage site. His legacy continues through the Chris Pattison Archive — an important collection documenting the history of the site and the wider story of water supply and engineering.
By taking part in Brain Tumour Awareness Month and lighting Sandfields Pumping Station in the campaign’s colours, the Trust hopes to raise awareness and support the continued push for greater investment in research — helping to improve treatments and work towards a cure.
