LYDIA WOLSTENHOLME
MRS Elizabeth Ellen Gamson, of Buckingham Grove, Church, passed away at home on Monday, October 7, aged 81.
Elizabeth worked at Prestige Ewbank as a paint sprayer until its closure in 1983.
She then worked at EJ Riley as a paint sprayer from 1984 to 1988 before working for Rist’s Wires and Cables between 1988 and 2000, and then as a Hyndburn Borough Council cleaner from 2000 until her retirement in 2003.
She loved reading and enjoyed spending time with her family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Wife of the late William Gamson, she was mother of Lesley, Mark and Stephen, grandmother of Paul, Vicki, Chris, Lisa, Sarah, Beth and Daniel and great-grandmother of Connor, Katie, Rosa, George, Joseph, Joshua, Sophie and Caleb.
A service will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Monday, October 21, at 2.20pm led by Ken Howles.
Family flowers only please and donations if desired to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Funeral director: Kirby & Hughes. LYDIA Wolstenholme passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 8, in Royal Blackburn Hospital.
She was the beloved wife of the late Tom, mother of Colin and the late Geoff, grandmother of Lisa, Julie and Kathryn and great-grandmother of Riley, Eve, Kendall, William and Jacob.
The world is an emptier place without you.
The funeral will take place at Accrington Crematorium on Tuesday, November 5, at 2.20pm.
Family flowers only and donations to East Lancs Hospice c/o the funeral director.
Funeral director: Wolstenholme Funeral Service.
DORIS BIBBY
MRS Doris Bibby sadly passed away on Sunday, October 6, aged 97.
She worked as a seamstress at Loofs Tailors for most of her working life.
She absolutely loved her garden and would spend many a happy hour keeping it neat and tidy.
She had a wonderful singing voice and could always be heard singing one of her favourite Frank Sinatra songs.
Doris was also a great dancer and loved children.
Doris enjoyed spending time with her late husband James Kenneth, known as ‘Ken’, which included many enjoyable holidays travelling all over the UK and abroad.
She leaves her sister-inlaw Joan and a niece and several nephews.
A funeral service will take place at Accrington Crematorium on Friday, October 18, at 1pm conducted by the minister Ken Howels.
No flowers by request and donations if desired are to Lancashire Air Ambulance c/o the funeral director.
Funeral director: Wolstenholme Funeral Service.
GLADYS ROBERTSON MACKENZIE
GLADYS Robertson MacKenzie of Highfield Close, Oswaldtwistle, passed away peacefully in the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Saturday, October 12, aged 85.
In her early years Gladys attended Leith Academy School in Edinburgh.
She then worked on the International Switchboard at Faraday, Black Friars, before moving on to Spillers in New Malden, London, before taking her retirement.
In her spare time she loved going away on holiday and over the years has visited many places, from staying at home in the UK on caravan holidays with the children, to travelling around the world to Las Vegas, Hawaii, Vancouver and San Francisco.
She also liked cruising where she could explore lots of other different countries.
She also took pleasure in shopping, cooking and socialising with friends, but without a doubt her favourite pastime was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
A beloved wife of 65 years of the late Alexander, Gladys sadly leaves behind her much loved children Lynn and Sheena, her treasured grandchildren Chris, Steven, Katie and Samantha and her cherished greatgrandchildren Harry, Keira and Evelyn.
Gladys will be very sadly missed by all her loving family and friends.
A celebration of life service is due to be held at Accrington Crematorium on Friday, October 18, at 11.40am.
Family flowers only please but donations are welcome for the Royal Osteoporosis Society in memory of Gladys c/o the funeral director.
Funeral director: Barton & Hallworth Funeral Service.
JAMES RANSON
JAMES ‘Jim’ Ranson, of Accrington, passed away peacefully in hospital on Friday, October 11, aged 94.
He was the dearly beloved husband of Edith, loving dad of David and Malcolm, dear father-inlaw of Morag, loving grandad of Sheila and Helen and great-grandad of Ellie and Sophie.
Jim served with The Royal Signals during the war and was based in Germany.
He then worked as an auditor in Blackburn and Accrington for many years.
Jim loved lists and was meticulous with figures and was gifted with an eagle eye for precision.
He loved classical music and opera and was an avid collector of books.
His armchair was surrounded by dictionaries.
Jim was naturally inquisitive and anything that grabbed his attention was thoroughly researched.
Jim was passionate about natural history and had been a long standing secretary and treasurer of Accrington Naturalist and Antiquarian Society.
He also enjoyed watching crime dramas and nature programmes on TV.
Jim will be remembered for being a loving and devoted family man and a true gentleman.
A service and cremation will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Tuesday, October 22, at 11am.
Family flowers only please and donations if desired in memory of Jim to Woodland Trust c/o the funeral director.
Funeral director: Champ Funeral Services.
VINCENT HAMMERTON
VINCENT ‘Vinny’ Hammerton, of Rishton, passed away peacefully in hospital on Tuesday, October 8, aged 85.
He was the much loved and loving dad of Peter and Lynda, dear fatherin-law of Tony, cherished grandad of Chelsea and Curtis, loved brother of Jean, Hugh and the late Noreen, Rita, Alice, Harry and Bill and also a dear relative and friend to many.
Following his school years Vincent completed his National Service.
This was the only time he ever left the UK and he never had the desire to travel abroad again.
He then started his working career in the Carpet Mill as a weaver, working most of his life at Gaskell Carpets. He loved his work and made many good friends over the years.
He was a member, committee member and former concert secretary at the Free Gardeners Club, Rishton, where he enjoyed many nights out dancing away to his favourite music.
Vincent was a true family man and was happy being at home surrounded by his loving family.
A funeral service and cremation will take place on Monday, October 21, at 11am at Accrington Crematorium.
Family flowers only please and donations on behalf of East Lancashire Hospice c/o the funeral director.
Funeral director: Champ Funeral Service.
KATHLEEN WARD
KATHLEEN ‘Kath’ Ward, of Baxenden, passed away suddenly but peacefully in her sleep at her home on Sunday, October 13, aged 74.
She was the devoted and much loved wife of David, loving and loved mum of Stephen and Susan, dear mother-inlaw of Denise and Andy, cherished grandma of Rachel, Bethany and Liam, loved sister of Barbara and her husband Tommy and also a loved relative and a dear friend to many.
Kathleen started her working life following school at OXO and then went on to work in various shops as a shop assistant, working at Woolworths, Tasker’s and finally retiring from her position at Smithson’s newsagents.
She loved her work and made many good and loyal friends over the years.
Kath loved her holidays with her husband and has shared some wonderful and happy times on holiday with friends.
A true family lady, Kath devoted herself to her family.
She doted on her grandchildren and was always on hand for babysitting services and would make the long trip to Plymouth at the drop of a hat to visit her son and his family.
An avid soap fan, Kath loved to keep up to date with her favourite TV programmes and also enjoyed completing her latest puzzles on her iPad.
The funeral will take place at Accrington Crematorium on Monday, October 28, at 12.20pm.
Donations are being received in memory of Kath on behalf of Arthritis Research UK.
Funeral director: Champ Funeral Services.