Tributes to ex-councillor
JON MACPHERSON
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former councillor who died after a battle with cancer.
Douglas Deakin represented Huncoat for the Conservative Party across four decades and was an ‘important’ cabinet member in the late 1990s.
The grandfather-oftwo suffered two heart attacks in 2002 and earlier this year was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer.
Douglas passed away at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Sunday, September 30 - three days after doctors told him he would have three months to live.
His wife Rita, who was married to her ‘soulmate’ for 38 years, said Douglas will be greatly missed.
She said: “He has been ill since Christmas and the hospital staff have been absolutely wonderful.
“It was a blessing in a way [when he died] because we saw him suffer so much.
“They said on Friday he had three months to live but he passed away on Sunday so that was a bit of a shock. He was so poorly.
“He loved socialising and was a great with conversation. He kissed a Blarney Stone in Ireland once and that gave him the gift of the gab.”
Retired sales assistant Rita, 76, who lives in West End, Oswaldtwistle, added: “He was so very well liked and we are expecting a lot of people at his funeral.”
Douglas, who worked as an accountant, served as a Huncoat councillor from 1979 to 1980, 1982 to 1986 and 1999 to 2001.
Former council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “Douglas was an important member of the Conservative team running Hyndburn in the late 1990s. He was our main spokesperson on finance.
“During those years when we had a majority of one on the council I could always depend on Douglas to keep the council on a steady financial footing.
“He was also a great champion for Huncoat and the people who lived there.
“Thoughts go out to his wife Rita and his family at this sad time.”
Conservative group leader Coun Tony Dob- son said: “He was just a really nice guy who wanted to do his best for the people he represented.
“Unfortunately poor health got the better of him in those later years but I always found him to be jolly.”
Douglas leaves wife Rita, children Kathryn and Nina, daughter-inlaw Claire and two grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Friday, October 12, at 3pm. Family flowers only and donations can be made to The Dogs Trust.
SEE obituary below.