EUNICE WALTON

MISS Eunice Walton, aged 91, formerly of Antley, Accrington.

Beloved daughter of the late Ernest and Florence, dearly loved sister of Gwenda (Gwen), the late Arthur, Stanley, Ronald, Clifford and Dorothy, aunt to Carol, Arthur, June and the late Marilyn.

Eunice lived in Accrington all her life, being born in Moreton Street, moving to Countess Street, Portland Street and spending the past 47 years of her life in Antley. The youngest of seven, she lived with her beloved sister Gwen, never spending more than a week away from each other all their lives. Her father was a fireman, whose primary job was to look after the horses that pulled the fire truck. She was four when he died in a work-related accident and her mother brought all seven siblings up on her own. At age six she was involved in a playground accident which badly damaged her back and ultimately led to her contracting TB. She was taken to Wrightington Hospital in Manchester, where she stayed for two years. She left school at age 14 and began working at Woolworth’s in Accrington until she was 17, when she got a job working with a local florist, Beatrice Kay.

She trained with Ms Kay until she was 22, when she went to work for Darbyshire’s, another florist in Accrington. Aged 30 she sadly had to leave Darbyshire’s to look after her mother and started working part-time for another local florist, Kirby’s in Accrington. Upon the death of her mother, she became full-time manageress at Kirby’s. Whilst at Kirby’s she decided to take a City and Guilds course in flower arranging. She found a class in Manchester and it turned out she had found her vocation when the course tutor rang her after her final exams to inform her that she had earned the highest marks anyone had ever received on the course – 96 out of a possible 100 – she was celebrated in the Accrington Observer.

She was a founder member of Accrington Flower Club and was one of the last of the founder members alive. She joined at its formation in 1969 and was a lifelong member until it closed. When she was 75 she was allowed to stop paying subscriptions! She was involved in many flower festivals in several places around the area, including churches and Stonyhurst College. Following a long career at Kirby’s Florist, she decided to have a change and spent the rest of her working life at Rist Wires and Cables in Oswaldtwistle.

She was very skilled with her hands and was capable of carrying out very intricate tasks which required much dexterity. She continued with her flower arranging and made a dried flower arrangement every week to display in Reception at the factory, plus many other private commissions. Her talent and eye for detail were second to none. On May 16, 2012 The Queen visited Accrington and Eunice was invited to make the bouquet of flowers which would be officially presented to her. It was a very great honour for Eunice and recognition of her fabulous talent. It was a memory she treasured forever. She enjoyed travelling with her sister, but wherever she went it always had to involve her beloved flowers and gardens; as part of Accrington Flower Club she was invited to visit Highgrove, the home of The Prince of Wales. She had a vast collection of plants, flowers and gardening books, was an expert gardener, knew all the different varieties, including the Latin names and could recognise almost anything she saw, often from just the leaf.

She is survived by her sister, Gwen.

A cremation will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Thursday, July 9 at 1.40pm. Family flowers only please, but donations, if desired, to eastlancshospice.org.uk/ donate .

Funeral director: Kirby & Hughes, Accrington.