Tributes to librarian who devoted life to town
TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘fiercely independent’ former librarian who was a pillar of the Bacup community.
Dorothy Smith, of Lily Street, died aged 92 at Highfield Hall Care Home in Haslingden after a fourmonth illness.
Born in Stacksteads, she had worked at Bacup Library for more than 40 years having begun her career with them in her late teens.
After retiring at the age of 65 she devoted her life to a range of community organisations and clubs around the town. A lifelong member of the Rossendale Soroptimists, Dorothy was also a regular attendee at the Friday Club at the A B & D Centre on Burnley Road.
Additionally she spent time volunteering at Oxfam and was a member of the Aged Blind and Disabled Society, and also attended Holy Trinity Church in Tunstead.
One of five children, the late Matilda, Harry and Edith, Dorothy is survived by her twin brother Edwin, also from Bacup.
Their father was Frederick Smith, who ran a tobacconist in Stacksteads and was a well-known barber during the Second World War.
Her niece Alison Whittaker, who also lives in the town, described her aunt as a ‘quiet and private’ person, but said she had an adventurous side and ‘loved’ Bacup.
She said: “She didn’t drive so she spent most of her life doing things in and around Bacup.
“She loved living in Bacup, we used to worry about her walking home at night from her clubs and she said she never felt afraid, even in her 80s.
“She didn’t retire at 60 because she wasn’t ready to retire. When she retired she worked at the Oxfam shop for several years.
“A big part of her life was going to the A B & D centre doing various activities with them and going out on trips. Up until the sum- mer she lived in her own home independently.”
Alison added: “In her younger days she loved travelling.
“I remember her going to places like America and China while we going to Morecambe or camping, and thinking ‘wow’. In the 1950s she went on holiday to Spain by train before they did packages there, she did lots of travelling when no one did travelling.”
Aside from her community activities, Dorothy was a great cat-lover and also a keen knitter and reader. Alison said: “She was a quiet person, a quite private person and very independent. She still went out, right until she went into hospital she still went to the clubs.
“She was quite civicminded. I think there will be lots of people who will see her picture who will know her as a familiar face in Bacup because she was always walking round the town.
“She was fiercely independent, we have been quite proud of her because she never asked anyone to do anything for her. I think it’s a huge achievement to run your own home right up until you are 92.”
Reverend David Brae, team rector at Holy Trinity Church, also paid tribute.
He said: “When we lose someone dear to our community it’s always very sad and very difficult, but we can look back with fond memories at the great things they have done in our lives and be thankful they contributed to so many smiles.”
Dorothy leaves her brother Edwin, and eight nieces and nephews. Her funeral will take place on December 12 at Holy Trinity Church at 11am.
AGNES ENGLISH
MRS Agnes English, of Cutler Crescent, Bacup, died on Sunday, November 19, at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 85.
She was a footwear machine operator and a hotel cook at the Tower Hotel, Waterford, Ireland.
Agnes enjoyed watching TV and especially loved Steven Seagal films.
She also enjoyed shopping trips with her family.
She was a member of the Labour party.
Agnes leaves her sons and daughters Luchia, Theresa, James, Christina, Bernadette, Cora, Sarah and Anthony. She was also the mother of the late Kathleen Agnes and the late baby Aggie, who died in Ireland. She also leaves grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Requiem mass, conducted by Father Philip Boast, was due to be held at St Peter’s RC Church, Newchurch, on Thursday, November 30, at 10am, followed by burial at Bacup Cemetery at 11.30am.
Flowers are welcome.
Funeral director: Graham Holt for Knight and Boys.
TREVOR WATERHOUSE
MR Trevor Waterhouse, of Cherry Crescent, Rawtenstall, died on Sunday, November 26, at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 78.
He enjoyed photography and sports.
He leaves his wife Pamela, sister Valerie, sons Terry and Craig, daughter Tracy and partner Derek, grandson Scott and partner Louise, four granddaughters, two great-granddaughters, brothers-in-law, his sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and one great-grandson.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 6, at Burnley Crematorium at 10.40am. Flowers are welcome. Funeral director: Dawn Winfield for Fred Hamer Funeral Service.
LEONARD BRIDGE
MR Leonard Bridge, of Deerplay Rest Home, Weir, died on Monday, November 11, at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 86.
He was a coal miner before joining the Lancashire Fire Service in 1958 until his retirement in 1984.
Leonard was a keen snooker player and in his later years he took up bowling and sequence dancing. He also enjoyed his many holidays abroad and was a member of the Rawtenstall Pensioners Association.
He was the husband of the late Hazel and leaves his partner Irene, children Janet, David, and Keith, son-in-law Geoff, grandchildren Claire, Julie, Sam and Jonathan, great-grandchildren Milo and Isla, sister Mary, brother Harvey, sister-inlaw Joan, and nephews and nieces.
There will be a short service, conducted by Pete Goulding, at James Street at 10am on Friday, December 1, followed by a full service at Burnley Crematorium at 10.40am.
Family flowers only with donations, if desired, in memory of Leonard, for The Royal British Legion or The Fireman’s Benevolent Fund.
Donations can be made online by visiting www. fredhamer.co.uk (tributes and donations).
Funeral director: Dawn Winfield for Fred Hamer Funeral Service.
JOAN GILL
JOAN Gill, of Bonfire Hill, Crawshawbooth, died on Wednesday, November 22, at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 82.
Joan worked for Home Help and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mother of the late Susan and grandmother of the late Callum, she leaves her children Tony and Lesley, and her grandchildren Liam, Franny, Jamie, Aoina and Steph. She also leaves her great grandchildren Tommy, Freddy, Ebonae, Summer, Baby Meeks, Rosie, Robbie, Lennon, Chloe, Theo and Lola.
The funeral service, conducted by Judith Talbot, was due to be held on Thursday, November 30, at Burnley Crematorium at 3.40pm.
Family flowers only with donations to Pendleside Hospice.
Donations can be made online by visiting www. fredhamer.co.uk (tributes and donations).
Funeral director: Dawn Winfield for Fred Hamer Funeral Service.
JANET HAMER
JANET Hamer, formerly Maddock, sadly passed away, aged 63, at home. She will be missed by all.
She was the loving wife of Kevin, the loving mother of three children and leaves 10 grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Monday, December 4 at 11am.
Flowers and donations welcome to the Salvation Army.
Thank you to all friends and family who supported Janet and continue to support Kevin and family at this sad time.
ELIZABETH LORD
MRS Elizabeth Ann Lord, of Stacksteads, died on Tuesday, November 7, at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 92.
Betty, as she was known, retired from F Bainbridge’s, Stacksteads, after many years as a machinist.
Her hobby was dancing and she went regularly to the Tea Dances at Ramsbottom Civic Hall. For many years, she supported Bacup Amateurs and never missed a show.
She was the wife of the late Arthur and leaves her daughter Janice and her husband Stephen, son Jeff and his partner Jane, grandchildren Amanda and Nathan, Jenna, Emma and Kurt, greatgrandchildren Milo, Bruno, Luca and Orla. She was also a sister to Jean, Peter and Margaret and her late brother Will.
The funeral service, conducted by the Rev David Brae, was held at Holy Trinity Church, Tunstead, on Thursday, November 16. This was followed by burial at St Ann’s Churchyard, Edgeside.
Donations to the British Heart Foundation.
Funeral director: Dawn Winfield for Knight and Boys Funeral Service.
DOROTHY SMITH
MISS Dorothy Smith, of Lily Street Bacup, died on Saturday, November 25, at Highfield Hall Care Home, Haslingden, aged 92.
She was a retired librarian at Bacup Library.
She was a member of the Soroptimist Society, Aged Blind and Disabled Society, and Holy Trinity Church, Tunstead, and was also a charity worker.
She leaves her twin brother Edwin Smith and eight nieces and nephews.
The funeral service, conducted by the Rev David Brae, will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Tunstead, on Tuesday, December 12, at 11am, followed by burial at Bacup Cemetery at noon. Flowers welcome. Funeral director: Graham Holt for Knight and Boys.
ERIC ORMEROD
MR Eric Ormerod died peacefully, and with great dignity, on Thursday, November 23, at Ashlands Nursing Home, aged 90, in the presence of family.
Eric was married for 65 years to his late wife Holda, and is survived by his sons David and Peter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He will be remembered by many as a kind and gentle man, proprietor of Glendale Shoes, Bacup, for many years, and active in a number of local organisations.
Service to be held at St Thomas’ Musbury (Helmshore) at 11.15am on Tuesday, December 12, and afterwards at Accrington Crematorium for the committal at 12.20pm.
Family flowers only, with commemorative donations to Rossendale Hospice via Fred Hamer Funeral Directors, Rawtenstall.
Funeral director Dawn Winfield.