Tributes after death of grocer
TRIBUTES have been paid to well-known shopkeeper and rotarian Bryan Schofield who has passed away, aged 79.
Bryan ran the Schofield’s grocers shop on Burnley Road in Rawtenstall with his wife Carole from the 1960s until his retirement around 15 years ago.
The grandfather-of-two was also the former chairman of Rossendale Round Table, a member of Rossendale Rotary Club and a governor at Oakhill College in Whalley.
He passed away at hospital on Wednesday, February 14, aged 79.
His son Mark said he was ‘very well-known in the community’.
He said: “He ran Schofields for about 40 years until his retirement.
“The person who bought it was my great-grandfather William in 1912 and it was then run by my granddad Bert.
“It was a real surprise because I didn’t realise the business went back that far.
“They were very well-known in the community and I always have people stopping me in the street asking how they are.
“That’s going to be quite tricky to deal with in the immediate future.
“As the supermarkets came along it got more and more difficult but they were determined characters.
“[Bryan] was a very sociable person who liked the social side of events.
“He liked to frequent the local pubs in the evening. It was all part of being in the community.
“He went to the Ashworth Arms which has now closed and The Red Lion.”
Mark, 54, said Bryan also enjoyed his role as a college governor.
Project manager Mark, from Newchurch, said his father passed away a day after being admitted to hospital. He said: “Around the time of his retirement he suffered a series of strokes. He led less than a good quality of life for the last five years. It’s been on a slippery slope. It deteriorated significantly since around Christmas time. That was when we started to become concerned. He was at home until Tuesday morning and then died in hospital on Wednesday morning. The end was quick.” Mark leaves wife Carole, sons Mark and Paul, daughters-in-law Deborah and Linzi grandchildren Daniel and Hannah. ●● See obituary below.