VALERIE ROBINSON OBE
ON Sunday, February 13, peacefully at home with her loving sister by her side, Valerie aged 80.
She leaves her beloved sister Carole, who has been a constant companion and best friend, living with her for the past year, nephews Andrew and Kevin, great-niece and nephew Iona and Jay, great, great-niece and nephew Esmie and Lyle, as well as special friends Lil and Ginny, and many friends nationwide.
Val was born in Accrington in 1941 to parents Bill and Doris Walsh. She attended H.S and Chelsea College of Physical Education.
Val’s first teaching post was at Ellesmere Port G.G.S where she met and married Gwyn, her rock and best friend for 55 years.
Val represented England at hockey for 21 years including 19 Wembley appearances and five World Cups in Germany, N.Z., Edinburgh, Vancouver, and Kuala Lumpur.
She represented the first Great Britain squad formed for women’s first official qualification for entry into the Moscow Olympics. Although they qualified, hockey decided to boycott over Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan. Officialdom also meant G.B missed out on the Los Angeles Olympics four years later.
She also competed in and won the U.K. Women’s Superstars in 1978 and 1980. Val loved all sports and outdoor activities and particularly enjoyed walking with Gwyn and their beautiful Dobermans Fritz and Ella.
In 1980 she and Gwyn gave up two responsible teaching posts in a venture to open a residential sports centre at Foxhill Bank House in Oswaldtwistle, for schools and adult clubs.
During the limited amount of leisure time,
Val served as President of Oswaldtwistle Civic Society, and was a member of the Prospects Panel. She was proud of having helped with the building of a straw bale toilet, a footpath and bridges, and the growing of trees from seed at Tinker Brook Nursery.
Her love and enjoyment of playing hockey continued with Great Harwood and Blackburn until the age of 65! She also enjoyed running with Accrington Road Runners. She was a member of Accrington Golf Club and enjoyed that camaraderie of the ladies section, the mixed events with husband Gwyn, team events, and regional and national competitions with her friend Lil. Val will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing and loving her.
Val’s funeral service will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Wednesday, February 23, at 1.40pm. Please wear bright colours, Val requested no black to be worn. Family flowers only please; donations in memory of Val are being gratefully received on behalf of Cancer Research UK c/o champfunerals. com/obituaries
Funeral director: Champ Funeral Services, Clayton-le-Moors.
DAVID PRATT
IT is with great sadness that the family of David Pratt, aged 85, of Plantation Street, Accrington, announce that he passed away peacefully in hospital on Wednesday, January 19.
Son of Norman and Lilian (both deceased) and brother of Leonard (deceased).
Born in Accrington, David attended Peel Park Primary School and Oswaldtwistle Technical School.
He was an apprentice plumber and, following his National Service in Germany, worked at English Electric/GEC and Hollingsworth as a buyer.
He attended St Paul’s Church, Accrington as Church warden.
He leaves behind son Martin and daughter Gillian, daughter-in-law Christine and son-in-law Kenneth, four grandchildren Gary, Stuart, Alastair and Jennifer, and two great-grandchildren Oliver and Matthew.
Following a service at St Paul’s, David was cremated on Wednesday, February 16 at Accrington Crematorium.
Grateful thanks to Ward B4 at Royal Blackburn Hospital, Amanda Marshall, and Hyndburn Funeral Services for their care and dignified ministrations.
Family flowers only; donations gratefully accepted to Alzheimer’s Society via funeral director Hyndburn Funeral Services, Accrington.