Great people who we lost in 2021
NATIONALLY 2021 was a sad year, with the loss of famous people inclouding the Duke of Edinburgh, actress Helen Mccrory and NHS fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore. In the Burton area we also lost some wonderful people whom we had loved over the years.
Here are some of the high-profile figures who were mourned both locally and nationally during the past 12 months.
JANUARY
One of Burton’s most celebrated businessmen died. Decades earlier he invented the first ever plastic wall plug.
The company Stuart Turner founded, Plasplugs, owed its name to his genius invention and grew to achieve success across the globe including opening a factory in New Jersey, USA. Mr Turner died in January, aged 83, after a long illness.
Nationally Gerry Marsden, of The Gerry and the Pacemakers fame, singer of the Liverpool FC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone, died at the age of 78.
Former Bond girl Tanya Roberts died at the age of 65,
Veteran US talk show host Larry King died at the age of 87 after he was in hospital with Covid-19.
FEBRUARY
Locally, a Burton neighbourhood was in mourning after the sad death of a war hero and Pirelli worker described as a “legend” of his community. Tributes poured in for Harold Woolrych – known as Jim – after he died from kidney failure. His family said they were “devastated” at the loss of Eton Park stalwart Jim, who worked as a maintenance engineer at Burton’s Pirelli factory for decades.
He was a well-known face around town, where he was a regular in several pubs including The Navigation in Horninglow Road.
Nationally the nation mourned as Captain Sir Tom Moore died aged 100 on February 2 after being diagnosed with pneumonia. The national treasure was an inspiration to many, raising nearly £33 million for NHS charities during the Covid19 pandemic.
Christopher Plummer, of The Sound Of Music fame, died at his home in Connecticut in the US, aged 91.
MARCH
Locally, we lost much-loved and respected shop worker Peter Miller, who worked at Burtons men’s wear, in Station Street, Burton, for 65 years. Flowers and and candles were placed outside the store in tribute to the 80-year-old and his funeral cortege passed by.
Tributes were also paid to a “true gentleman” who built a small Burton electrical engineering firm into a global success. The family of Gerry Parker have gathered to remember
the “people person” who turned his father’s business WT Parker into a massive success, opening three shops and satellite offices across the country.
He died on March 3 aged 91, leaving wife of 48 years Pat, three children, and seven grandchildren and had recently welcomed a third great grandchild to the family.
Mr Parker started working at the family firm in the 1950s. It was his father William Parker who began the original Burton-based electrical engineering company WT Parker in 1922. In 2017, it was sold to Edwin James Holdings Ltd (EJH) after 90 years in the Parker family and is now known as EJ Parker Technical Services (Central) Ltd.
In the same month, Coronation Street actor, Johnny Briggs, known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the long-running ITV soap, died age 85 after a long illness.
APRIL
After the death of Prince Philip was announced, the Burton Mail took a look back at his many visits to Burton over the years.
He retired from public duties in 2017 which marked 60 years since he first visited the town when he visited Burton Town Hall and arrived to a throng of wellwishers. He also spent time at the town’s Marmite factory as well as the Carlsberg Tetley Brewery in Station Street to see his favourite tipple Double Diamond being brewed.
Friday Night Dinner and Chernobyl actor Paul Ritter died at the age of 54 with a brain tumour.
Peaky Blinders ctress Helen Mccrory died from cancer. She was just 52.
MAY
The creator of long-running gameshow Countdown, Marcel Stellman, died aged 96, with tributes paid by former host Carol Vorderman and
Dictionary Corner’s Susie Dent. Belgian-born Stellman was also a record producer and lyricist who wrote songs for stars including Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Charles Aznavour, The Shadows and Tony Bennett.
Model and singer Nick Kamen, who was considered a protégé of Madonna, died at the age of 59 after a long illness. She led the tributes to Kamen, also known for his Levi’s 501 advert set in a launderette, along with Boy George and comedian Matt Lucas.
JULY
The chairman of a Derbyshire bakery firm with branches in Burton, Uttoxeter and Swadlincote died aged 63. Derbyshire family bakery firm Birds Bakery announced the death of Nicholas Bird. His wife and Birds chief operating officer Lesley Bird made the sad announcement to Birds staff.
Mourners lined the streets outside Burton police station to pay their respects after the death of a respected Burton police officer.
John Barrett’s death at the age of 62 “left a huge hole in so many people’s lives”, wife Lorraine told the Burton Mail. He died from lung cancer almost exactly a year after daughter-in-law Leanne was taken by the same illness in her 30s.
Friends and colleagues turned out in numbers to pay their respects as John’s funeral procession passed Burton Police Station on its way to Bretby Crematorium.
The Hollywood director Richard Donner, whose credits included The Goonies and the original Superman film, died aged 91.
AUGUST
Best known for her roles in the film Summer Holiday and BBC shows Till Death Us Do Part and Sherlock, Una Stubbs died aged 84.
When the comedian Sean Lock
died of cancer at the age of 58 there was a mountain of tributes from other comedy greats such as Lee Mack, Bill Bailey and Eddie Izzard. Lock was known for his surreal content and deadpan style, and was a team captain on Jimmy Carr’s Channel 4 comedy panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats and the spin-off, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Rolling Stone Charlie Watts was hailed as “one of the greatest drummers of his generation” following his death at the age of 80.
SEPTEMBER
A family spoke of their heartbreak after the death of a major steam rally organiser a week before a big event.
David Hallam died aged 82 on September 4 after a short illness, just before the sixth annual Mavis Jean Memorial Run taking place.
His family went ahead with the event as a tribute, which saw a collection of vintage vehicles roll through villages including Tutbury and Scropton, in his honour, eight days later.
His son, Jon, spoke of the hole that has been left in his family’s lives and paid tribute to his “chatty, friendly” dad, from Draycott in the Clay.
Tributes poured in for a well-loved cancer ward healthcare assistant at Burton and Derby’s hospital trust. Tina Leek’s colleagues described her as “irreplaceable” as they mourned her sad death after a tragic accident. They praised her for supporting organ donation, which means her organs were likely to save lives.
Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding died at 39 after from breast cancer.
OCTOBER
In Burton, ex-colleagues spoke of their sadness after the former boss of a Burton gym tragically died.
Craig Barker joined Bannatyne, in Wellington Road, in 2018, and the gym announced he had lost his long battle with cancer.
When he knew his condition was terminal, Mr Barker set up his Craig’s Last Wish Just Giving page to raise money for the Matt Hampson Foundation, which helps rehabilitate people who have suffered lifechanging injuries.
And in a moving tribute on Facebook, former colleagues said Mr Barker “touched the hearts of everyone he met”.
Friends actor, James Michael Tyler, known for his role as quirky coffee shop manager Gunther, died aged 59 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Jennifer Aniston, whose character Rachel was the subject of Gunther’s unrequited love, said the show “would not have been the same” without him.
Showbusiness veteran Lionel Blair died aged 92 following a seven-decade career.
NOVEMBER
Locally, respected politician Kathryn Lauro, 77, of Donisthorpe, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. She was survived by her husband Michael and three children, Jacqueline, Marianne and James, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She had served on Derbyshire County Council representing the people of Linton for the Labour Party for more than a decade, only recently leaving public service.
Well-known Burton sportsman Theo Wellings spent decades living in Burton, where his family ran Wellings Funeral Services, which still operates today in Derby Street.
He worked as a salesman for Bass and the National Tyre Service, representing Burton’s rugby, rowing and water polo teams, as well as coaching its swimmers. Mr Wellings’ family spoke of their sadness after revealing he died from heart failure, aged 98.
Stephen Sondheim, creator of the musical Sweeney Todd, was hailed as one of musical theatre’s “greatest geniuses” following his death at 91.
DECEMBER
A respected and well-loved nurse saving lives at Burton Queen’s Hospital died at the age of 60.
Jacqueline Fenney, from Burton, spent more than four decades in the NHS and was synonymous with the Belvedere Road hospital.
Known as “Jackie”, she was a senior sister and theatre practitioner who joined the hospital trust in 1979 and helped mentor theatre staff.
She had worked in the theatre team, progressing through the ranks to become lead practitioner for the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department in 2000. She celebrated 40 years in the service and received an award for her dedication to nursing in 2019.
Michael Nesmith, singer and guitarist with American pop quartet The Monkees, died at the age of 78.
Carlos Marin, the singer from the male quartet group Il Divo, died at 53.