I had a pleasant walk to Withnell Fold on a clear frosty day. This is near Marsh Lane Brindle.

Frosty and sunny conditions on my walk home along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

One thing I like about shopping for stuff on Chorley market is that you get paper bags to put your veg in before having it weighed. I don't like the plastic bags that supermarkets provide as they are useless for storing veg in. Long live the brown paper bag. Another thing; veg on Chorley market is cheaper.

This morning was the funeral of Jack Searby of Withnell Fold. John Enderby Searby was born in the village on 29th Nov 1926 and died on 7th Nov 2008. The service was held in Withnell Fold Methodist Church at 10:30am. Jack was one of those people who always helped out in the background. He looked after the church finances and came to turn the heating on before events. He was a quit man who could always be relied on. One of those people ‘who always turned up’. The church was filled with his family and friends.

A gloomy and rainy day for Jack's funeral but his family and friends remembered him with warmth and affection.

At Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club the evening entertainment was The Goodfellas, an excellent rock band who covered many classic bands and their hits from the 60s and 70s.
Lead Guitar: Gaz Williams
Bass: Laurence Halpin
Drums: Carl Ellis

Local guitarist Richard (foreground)
makes a guest appearance with Gaz on lead.

Laurence Halpin and Gaz Williams

Today is Remembrance Sunday. In the village of Withnell Fold where I was brought up they remember the war dead with a short service by the Memorial Gardens. There was a paper mill by the village but it was closed in 1967. Like many other mills in the UK its men and women volunteered to fight during the 2 world wars. In WW1 83 men joined up and 14 were killed. In WW2 65men and 1 woman joined up and 5 men were killed. Torrential rain didn’t stop the service and a few hardy villagers gathered to remember all those who died.

This morning I attended the funeral of Paddy Boyd with Eric Bell. Paddy used to be one of the country’s top racing cyclists and also had good wins at international events. In 1955 he competed in the 2nd Tour of Egypt winning the sixth stage and helped his team to finish 3rd overall. Paddy had many interests and as well as cycling and walking, he’d dabbled with motorbikes and was also a keen fisherman. When one of his angling companions asked him what was his best catch he replied ‘Rose’, which was his wife Rosemary. Paddy had many friends and many turned out to pay their respects at the Charnock Richard Crematorium.

Paddy Boyd (1933-2008)

Paddy starting his racing career.

The service was a celebration of Paddy’s life and wonderful eulogies were provided by fellow cyclist Stan Brittain and his son Peter. So many turned up that there was standing room only in both the chapel and entrance foyer. The car park was full of cars and bicycles, the access drive and a large length of the A49 were full of cars. Eric had been at many funerals there and said he’d never seen anything like so many people turn up to pay their respects. Paddy had many friends and will be sadly missed.