Tributes to OAP who died in zebra crossing collision
TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘ muchloved’ bowling club treasurer following her death after a road traffic collision.
Margaret Wright, 76, was crossing a zebra crossing on Rochdale Road, Bacup when she was involved in a collision with a Rosso bus.
She suffered serious head injuries following the incident at 11.40am on Wednesday, July 12, and was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital where she later died. A file has been passed to the coroner’s office.
Her family said she was a ‘kind hearted and beautiful lady’ and that she was ‘gone too soon’.
The former cub leader lived in South Wales for 30 years before moving up to Bacup after the death of her parents to be closer to her cousin Dorothy Semple.
The former solicitors articled clerk looked after Dorothy until she died and later became an active member and treasurer of Bacup Bowling Club.
In a statement released through police, Margaret’s family said: “It is with great sadness and regret that we have to say goodbye to our dear and much loved friend Margaret Wright, who died as a result of a tragic road accident on July 12.
“Margaret loved sport and played netball in her younger days. She was an avid rugby union and football supporter, her teams being Swansea City and Port Vale.
“When in Bacup in her later years Margaret played bowls for Bacup Bowling Club and was an active member and their treasurer.
“Margaret was a much loved and respected lady by all who knew her, and will be sadly and greatly missed by her family, her many friends and neighbours. Margaret, a kind hearted and beautiful lady – gone too soon.”
She was heavily involved with Bacup Bowling Club, as well as teams in Whitworth and Stacksteads.
Stephen Chippendale, chairman of Bacup Cricket Club, said he had known Margaret for some 30 years and she was like a mother figure to him.
He said: “I’ve known Margaret for such a long time and she treated me like a son.
“She was one of our dearest members.
“In the last few years she had just started bowling again. She enjoyed it when she was younger.
“She had taken up the job of treasurer and was involved with every aspect of different teams across Rossendale.”
He said her death was just “unbelievable”. He added: “We just still cannot believe how it has happened. I’m never going to get my head around it.
“She was a larger than life character, was friendly to everybody and everybody knew her. She gave her time for everybody.
“If anybody wanted her to go and help out in Whitworth she would go. She would spread across the three clubs, but Bacup was where she lived and wanted to be.”