Salford says farewell to the ‘bold and vibrant’ lady who summed up the city’s spirit
THE legend that was Vera Done has been laid to rest.
Hundreds of mourners paid their respects to a woman who was known across Salford as ‘Vinegar Vera’.
As her funeral at St Paul’s Church in Pendleton ended her favourite song ‘Born Free’ was played.
The straight-talking grandmother passed away two weeks ago, aged 77.
Appropriately, another of her favourite songs, ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra, was also played.
Vera’s blustering character made her well known in boozers around the city and she had a great singing voice herself.
Her run-ins with the police were infamous and she could look after herself but GMP, according to Vera, ‘gave up’ and sent her a Christmas hamper.
The service was conducted by the Rector of St Paul’s David Wyatt, and a eulogy was given by former Salford councillor Norman Owen, who spoke of her uncanny knack to work out people’s star signs.
The service was followed by internment at Agecroft Cemetery.
A wake was held at Vera’s final watering hole The Priory - a backstreet pub in Pendleton, surrounded by factories and old mills.
Vera’s son, Jimmy, 57, said: “She was just straight forward. She was great. If she didn’t like you she would tell you.”
He revealed that his mum actually hated her nickname.
A myth had grown that her vinegar tag stemmed from the fact that she worked in a pickle factory in Swinton.
But Jimmy said that was false and the truth was it came from an incident in a Chapel Street chippy.
In yet another spat with her long-suffering partner, Mick Maguire, Vera asked for the vinegar, unscrewed the top, threw it in Mick’s face, and punched him.
A poem by Jimmy’s daughter-in-law, Lisa, was also read at the service.
It started with the lines: “A bold and vibrant lady who whispered not a word, coz if she had something to say she’d make sure it was heard!”
Despite her passing, Vera’s legend is set to endure as a film drama set in Salford features her.
The makers of ‘Why Are We Here...The Next Big Thing’ are currently looking for financial backing.
The script includes Vera at the doors of the Condron Club in Salford involved in a brawl with the doormen.