Tributes paid after death of two legends
TRIBUTES have been paid to a wellrespected businessman, community figure and Freeman of the Borough.
Geoffrey Hanson, of Great Harwood, passed away in the East Lancashire Hospice on Thursday, November 23, after a short illness aged 90.
Geoffrey, who took over the family animal feed and haulage business Hanson Feeds Ltd on Victoria Street aged 18 following the death of his father, was chairman of the Great Harwood Agricultural Society’s organising committee for half a century, before becoming life president.
He was involved in both the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Conservative parties and an executive member of his local Con- servative Association.
He was presented with the Freedom of Hyndburn award in a service at Accrington Town Hall in May, recognising his contribution to the hugely popular annual agricultural show and all round contribution to the town.
When nominated for the award, he told the Observer: “I feel very humbled and highly honoured. I don’t know what I have done to deserve it.”
Michael Hanson, 68, said his uncle was instrumental in keeping the Great Harwood Show going. He said: “He was very enthusiastic about it. To be honest, I thought Geoffrey would live until he was 100 years old.
“He only stopped working about two months ago. He looked a lot younger than he was, you would never have thought he was 90 looking at him.
“He was very well respected by lots of peo- ple and had lots of terrific friends.”
Michael, who was Geoffrey’s closest relative following the death of his wife Margaret in 1995 and daughter Angela four years ago, accompanied his uncle to the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in June.
He added: “It was a very special trip and we crammed a lot in. I took him around Harrods until 9 o’clock at night. He was a keen Conservative and when we went on the London Eye I told him he would be able to look over the Houses of Parliament. He thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Geoffrey passed away after contracting pneumonia during treatment for cancer in his right lung diagnosed this summer.
Michael, who grew up in Great Harwood before moving to Read, said he had been touched by the sympathies of Geoffrey’s neighbours and also by the council flying the flag at half mast as a mark of respect to him.