‘The life and soul of party who touched many lives’
Tributes are paid to former councillor
TRIBUTES have been made to a former councillor and devoted family man who ‘touched many lives’ and was ‘the life and soul of any party’.
Tom Daniels of West View, Stacksteads passed away at his home from a sudden heart attack on April 17 at the age of 73.
The beloved father-offive was a Labour councillor for Stacksteads ward in May 1987 until May 1991.
Tom was also Chairman of Stacksteads Countryside Park Group (20192022) and he had been Vice Chair from 2017 until 2019. After retiring as chair he continued as a trustee on the board for the charity.
In a joint statement, Tom’s daughters said: “Tom was the most dependable, devoted, kind and caring husband, father and grandad we could have wished for.
“He was truly devoted to his family. He was a great role model and we are very proud of his values and achievements. He touched many lives and will be dearly missed by all that loved and knew him.
“He has a great sense of humour and he created lots of laughter.
“He was also competitive and he had strong core values that he lived his life by.
“Our dad was the life and soul of any party, and he was very wise and intelligent, but also had a mischievous, comical side.”
Tom had a wealth of experience on the committee service including; Housing Management and Services Committee in which he was chair from 1988 until 1990, Finance and Personnel Sub-Committee, Direct Labour Organisations Sub-Committee, Policy and Resources Committee, and Environmental Health and Control Committee.
Deputy Leader, Cllr Jackie Oakes, said: “As well as being a councillor for a number of years, Tom had also been Chairman of Stacksteads Countryside Park Group and was a hardworking committed member.
“Although his health had been poor recently, he still supported our fundraising events and in fact came along to our fundraising carwash last Sunday, so it was a shock to hear of his passing.
“We’re all saddened by his sudden death and our thoughts are with his family. He will be very much missed by all those that knew him.”
Tom was an active member of the community and enjoyed a variety of sports.
He loved Crown Green Bowling and he was a member of Rose N Bowl team for many years.
In the summer he would play daily at Bacup Park with many of his friends.
The former member of Bacup Golf Club also was a keen Manchester City and Burnley football supporter.
He played squash daily for many years and he was a member of Bury Athenaeum Bridge Club.
The former member of St Mary’s Players Bacup enjoyed performing in various plays at the Leisure Hall in Bacup alongside some of his daughters.
He played for Royal Oak Team B in the Rossendale Pub Quiz League where he was known for being very intelligent and for having a wealth of knowledge.
Tom, who was born and raised in Yorkshire, lived with his parents and elder brother, Norman.
He won a scholarship to attend Giggleswick Private School where he attained many O Levels and A Levels.
The former Manchester University student attained a degree in History and Politics and he remained in Manchester and became a childcare social worker.
He married his wife, Carol in 1978 and moved to Urmston.
The grandfather-ofnine moved to the Rossendale Valley in 1982 and he became a senior social worker in Blackburn.
Tom remained in Stacksteads for the last 41 years.
He continued to progress in his career becoming a Team Leader, Area Manager and then Head of Personal Social Care for
East Lancashire and a Director of Adult Services for East Lancashire before retiring in December 2010.
He received a high number of messages of thanks for what a wonderful supportive, kind and inspirational leader he had been and the difference he had made to people’s lives.
Tom’s love of learning continued throughout his life. In 2006 he achieved an A* GCSE Spanish and continued to achieve an A Level in Spanish.
When he retired he had a holiday home in Spain where he enjoyed many happy holidays with his wife, daughters, grandchildren
and son-in-laws.
He enjoyed many family holidays from Butlins holidays in Wales when his children were young to later going on his dream holiday to Machu Picchu.
The former member of Acre Mill Baptist Church visited many other places such as Mexico, Cuba, Baltic Cruise, Jamaica, Switzerland.
He enjoyed having a dog all his adult life and had a special relationship with his furry friend.
Tom will be dearly missed by his wife, Carol and daughters; Melanie, Marianne, Nicola, Louise and Suzanne.