Woman opens cafe in memory of son who died in crash

Martell Blackford has opened Jacob's Table in memory of her son, Jacob Holman

A woman has opened a cafe in memory of her only son, who died aged 17 in a car crash.

Martell Blackford's son Jacob Holman was one of three teenagers who died after a crash on Offoxey Road in Tong, Shropshire, in March.

Ms Blackford, who took over the cafe in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, where she has worked for 10 years, called it Jacob's Table in tribute to her son.

"It's been a dark six months. After losing Jacob, I needed something to refocus and give me a purpose," she said.

Jacob Holman died in hospital a day after the crash near Shifnal

The mother, from Tettenhall, worked for 10 years at the cafe under its previous two owners, the latter of whom was Wolverhampton Wanderers player Sasa Kalajdzic.

"He knew he was going out on loan so decided to sell," Ms Blackford said.

After taking ownership of the cafe, she then had to decide what she wanted to call it and how to dedicate it to her son.

"Just Jacob's wasn't enough. We wanted everybody to come and be part of it and dine at Jacob's Table," she said.

A portrait of Jacob hangs above the bar in Jacob's Table

The cafe is now open, with a painting of Jacob which she had commissioned while on holiday in Egypt hanging above the bar.

"It feels like I've got part of him back with me. He's looking down on us," she said.

"It's just a shame I'm doing it and he's not here to be a part of it."

Jacob had also worked at a restaurant called Seats, starting as a pot washer before training in the hopes of becoming a chef.

'He was life and soul'

Ms Blackford said she had wanted him to come and work at the cafe with her, a wish that never got to be fulfilled.

"His dad died three years ago. It knocked his confidence but working there and going out with his friends built his confidence back," she said.

Speaking about her son, Ms Blackford said: "He had three older sisters and after his dad died, he'd become the man of the house.

"I've found out that he was the life and soul of his friendship group."

Ms Blackford said about the cafe: "It feels like I've got part of him back with me"