IN MEMORIAM

Bolton School remained ‘across the road’ all her life. The family Steinway grand piano stood proudly in the music room where it stands to this day. Shirley retained many connections with the School, and many pupils came to the family home at the end of the school day, some becoming accomplished pianists in their own right over the years. In 1976, the family joined St Michael’s Church where Shirley took over as organist, a position she would hold for 43 years until she decided the time was right to retire. She was Chair of the Mothers’ Union for several years and was also a popular organist amongst many of Bolton’s funeral directors who regularly called on her to play the organ at Overdale Crematorium. Shirley was widowed in 1995. Having never been abroad up this point, Shirley enjoyed several holidays with her best friend from Bolton School, Val Harris (née McCarty, 1947-1954). The Italian Lakes, Austria and Majorca were their favourite destinations. Music remained an important part of her life with many a trip to the Hallé, and to Victoria Hall with her brother and his wife; and many an enjoyable evening was spent courtesy of the Friends of Bolton Symphony Orchestra. In July 2018, Shirley was diagnosed with bowel cancer and underwent challenging surgery that August. In November 2019, Shirley hung up her organist slippers – playing the organ was by this time difficult. She was 84 by this point and had completed 43 years in post. Becoming increasingly frail, she continued to attend church when she could, but in January 2021, Shirley received the devastating news that the cancer had returned and spread. With each month that went by, she became more fragile, and by November needed support at home. She spent Christmas Day at home, surrounded by her family. Having been fiercely independent with some degree of mobility throughout, Shirley retired to bed on the evening of Sunday 9th January 2022, where she remained and slept peacefully for much of the time until she passed away in the early hours of Wednesday 12th January 2022, aged 86. David Whitworth and Sue Higson (née Whitworth)

Lois Cheatle (née Hough, 1944-1949) - Died 22nd March 2022 Sheila Entwistle (née Constantine, 1932-1944) - Died 2nd January 2020 Jeanne Lonnen (née Glover, 1938-1944) - Died 16th June 2022 Dr Marjorie Nevill (née Lord, 1942-1953) - Died 26th May 2022 Gladys Sidebottom (née Ormesher, 1952-1959) - Died 27th September 2022

Julia Campbell (née Singh) and Anna Ganley (née Georgiades) (both Class of 2001) having a fabulous time at the ‘1’ Class Reunion, April 2022