AIDLEY. Peacefully on 29th January 2025 at Macclesfield District General Hospital, Eric William, aged 84, of Brownlow. The dearly loved and devoted husband of Beryl; loving dad of Andrew and Joanne; cherished granddad of Emily, Amy, Ryan, Logan and the late Ashton, and treasured great-granddad of Theodore and Ezra. The cortege is to leave his home on Monday, 24th February at 10.45am for a service and interment at St Mary’s Church, Astbury, at 11am. Will relatives please accept this, the only intimation, and would friends wishing to attend kindly meet at the church. Family flowers only; donations, if desired, to Cancer Research UK. All enquiries and donations to Alan Finneron Funeral Directors, 32, West Street, Congleton, 01260 277 622.
BOOTH (Terence, “Terry”). Terry passed peacefully on Thursday, 30th January 2025 at East Cheshire Hospice surrounded by his loving family, aged 88. The cherished husband of Maureen; loving father of Simon, Sandra, Sarah and David; much-loved granddad of Owen, Evie, Toby, James and Alice and the late Tom Greenwood, and much-loved brother of Roger. Terry will be lovingly remembered for his kindness, strength and endless amount of energy for his age. He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. The funeral will be held at Birches Crematorium, Northwich, at noon on Friday, 21st February. Will friends please accept this notice as an invitation to join us in celebrating Terry’s life. The family are truly grateful for all the kind messages of condolence and cards that have been sent in Terry’s memory. We request that instead of flowers, donations can be made to East Cheshire Hospice. A donation box will be available at the service. However, donations can be sent via the funeral directors. The funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Abi and Jason at Larvin and Clegg Funeral Care, 20, Antrobus Street, Congleton, 01260 297 963. larvinandclegg.co.uk. Please direct all enquiries to them.
BROWN (John). Peacefully passed away on 26th December 2024, John, aged 91, of Woodhouse Lane, Biddulph. The devoted husband of the late Margaret; dearly loved dad of Pauline, Debbie and the late Stephen; much-loved granddad and great-granddad, and also a special friend to many.
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BROWN (Stephen). Suddenly passed away on 1st December 2024, aged 68. The devoted dad of Robert and Helen; dearly loved granddad, much-loved son of the late John and Margaret Brown and a treasured brother of Pauline and Debbie, as well as a very special friend to many. A service to celebrate the lives of John and Stephen is to take place on Thursday, 27th February at The Old Chapel Etruria, Etruria Old Road, Stoke on Trent, ST1 5PE, at 1pm. Donations, if desired, to Biddulph In Bloom. Enquiries: John Garside and Son, 2, Cross Street, Biddulph, 01782 513 210.
CZAPLA (Krystyna). Krystyna Czapla, (75), died peacefully surrounded by her friends in the early hours of 23rd January 2025. After training as a doctor in Hanover, Germany, Krystyna came to England in 1985, where she held several training posts before practising as a hospital consultant in renal medicine, most recently at Manchester Royal Infirmary. She moved to Congleton in her retirement and became a much-loved member of the community. She is survived by her niece, Katharina Wlodarczyk, and her close friends Christine and David Roffe. Her funeral will take place on 15th February at 12.30pm in St Mary’s Catholic Church, Congleton. Please wear bright colours. No flowers, donations to Maggie’s Centre in Manchester (maggies.org/get-involved/donate-maggies/) where she enjoyed peace and company with fellow cancer patients and carers. Enquiries to Co-op Funeralcare, 20, West Street, Congleton, 01260 270 290.
GOODWIN (Jean Alice). At rest on 21st January 2025, surrounded by her loving family, Jean Alice Goodwin (nee Salt) aged 91, reunited with her beloved husband, Norman Goodwin. Loving mum of Lynn, Chris and Jayne; treasured mother-in-law, devoted nan, great-nan and great-great-nan, and a very dear sister, sister-in-law and aunt. The funeral service will take place at Carmountside Crematorium on Friday, 21st February at 2.30pm. Would family and friends wishing to attend kindly meet at the crematorium. Family flowers only; donations, if desired, to Douglas MacMillan Hospice and Dementia UK. Enquiries to John Garside Funeral Directors, 2, Cross Street, Biddulph, 01782 513 210.
MCCLELLAN (Margery Alice). Born 21-7-1959, died 25-12-2024, Margery Alice, aged 64, of Biddulph. The cherished mother of Kelly and Kristian, and loving nan to Kyle and Corey. Marge will be sadly missed by family, friends and neighbours. Pure cremation; no service.
MORT (Kenneth Eric). Of Congleton, died peacefully on 24th January 2025 at Macclesfield District General Hospital, aged 92. The devoted husband of Jean Mort, and father to John Mort, Ian Mort and partner Cathy Mellor, David Mort and partner Sharon Magee. Kenneth was the brother to the recently deceased Joan Winifred Mort who died on 15th November 2024. He will be greatly missed, but well remembered by his family and friends.
Kenneth was born in Crewe in 1933 where he resided with his late father, police Sgt Ambrose Mort and late mother Winifred Mort. Sgt Mort was transferred to a Cheshire Police posting on the Wirral where Ken’s sister Joan was born in 1935 in Bebington. A further police transfer in the mid-1940s saw the family move to the old police station on Bold Street, Sandbach. Due to a lack of student vacancies, Ken unfortunately wasn’t able to transfer to the renowned Sandbach School, despite being eligible; something which frustrated him throughout his life. On leaving school at age 15, Ken started work at ERF in its Sandbach office and workshops. With good drawing skills, Ken was keen to further his education and took up technical drawing evening classes. His work at ERF led him to join the Royal Engineers Corps in the Army during his National Service in the early 1950s. After completing his National Service, Ken joined Cheshire Police in Hoylake on the Wirral. In 1958, Ken was posted to Cyprus with Cheshire Police as a sergeant to assist with the Greek and Turkish emergency in the-then British colony. On returning home, Ken resumed his role in Cheshire Police on the Wirral, passing the police advanced driving test before leaving the police and moving back to Sandbach, to live with his parents and sister. Ken’s father, Sgt Mort had recently retired from the police and was working as the gamekeeper on the Bradwall Estate of Sir John Barlow, and Ken joined the family, living in the Keeper’s Cottage.
In April 1961, Ken met his future wife Jean, when he started work in Manchester with an insurance company. In August 1961, while on a day trip to Porthmadog, North Wales with Jean, Ken was involved in the heroic rescue of a young lady from Liverpool, following the capsizing of a dinghy with her fiancé in the dangerous Glaslyn Estuary. Ken was a strong swimmer and his police swimming and lifesaving training enabled him to swim out to sea and single-handedly rescue the lady who was unconscious, but sadly Ken wasn’t able to save her fiancé.
The heroic incident was the lead story on the front page of the “Liverpool Echo” the following day. Ken’s bravery was acknowledged with an award from The Royal Humane Society, signed by the Duke of Gloucester. Ken and Jean married in June 1962, and had three boys, John, Ian and David.
Ken continued with his night classes, qualifying as a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, and together with his wife Jean, opened a family insurance brokerage office on Swan Bank, Congleton.
Ken and the family moved to live in Congleton in 1972. Ken was always keen on sport and outdoor recreation, including walking, camping, caravanning, fishing, shooting and archery. In his teens, Ken cycled from Sandbach to Land’s End, camping and staying at youth hostels along the way.
Ken was the Royal Engineers Corps Army’s .303 rifle champion shot during his National Service and regularly shot at the prestigious Bisley rifle range championships; later becoming a successful national long bow archer.
In 1975, Ken arranged for mountaineer Chris Bonnington to visit Congleton Town Hall and give a lecture soon after returning from the successful British Mount Everest Southwest Face expedition.
The town hall event was sold out and Berisford’s Band performed live to celebrate Mr Bonnington’s visit to Congleton.
In 1978, Ken set up a venture to import the Grumman Aluminium open Canadian canoes into the UK and Europe. To test the canoes, Ken took his three boys, then aged 14, 11 and 10 to canoe and camp the nearly 200-mile length of the River Shannon in Ireland. Wife Jean stayed at home and kept the Congleton Insurance office open.
Throughout his life, Ken was a great believer in continued education and felt his own opportunity for a good education had been disrupted as a boy. In 2009, he fulfilled a lifetime ambition to complete his education, when at the age of 76, he gained a BA honours degree in English literature with the Open University; allowing him to proudly sign his name as Kenneth Eric Mort ACII, BA (Hons). Co-op Funeralcare, of 20, West Road, Congleton, 01260 270 290, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
PARKER (Marie). Passed away peacefully on Sunday, 2nd February 2025 at her home surrounded by her loving family, Marie, of Congleton, aged 82. The loved and devoted wife of the late Graham; cherished mum of Elaine, Graham, Gavin and Alicia; treasured grandmother and great-grandmother and dearly missed sister. The funeral service will take place at Macclesfield Crematorium on Thursday, 27th February at 2.45pm. Family flowers only; donations, if desired, to Parkinson’s UK. Enquiries to: John Garside and Son, Mountbatten House, Stonehouse Green, Congleton, 01260 298 829.
SAGAR (Colin Albert). Colin passed away peacefully on Monday, 3rd February 2025 within the critical care unit at Macclesfield District General Hospital surrounded by his loving family, aged 80. The cherished husband of Kath; loving father to Simon and Dan; much-loved granddad of Ruby and Marshall; brother-in-law to Julie; respected uncle to Anthony, Carolyn, Lauren and Natasha, and a friend to many. Colin will be lovingly remembered for being “Col” and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. The funeral will be held at Birches Crematorium, Northwich, at 11.30am on Friday, 28th February. The celebration of his life will continue at Congleton Cricket Club. Will friends please accept this notice as an invitation to join us in celebrating Colin’s life. The family are truly grateful for all the kind messages of condolence and cards that have been sent in Colin’s memory. We request that instead of flowers, donations can be made to Royal British Legion. A donation box will be available at the service. However, donations can be sent via the funeral directors. The funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Abi and Jason at Larvin and Clegg Funeral Care, 20, Antrobus Street, Congleton, 01260 297 963. larvinandclegg.co.uk. Please direct all enquiries to them.
WAKEFIELD (Wilfred). Passed away peacefully at Leighton Hospital on 10th February 2025. Wilf, aged 93, of Wheelock. The devoted husband of the late Mary and loving dad to Timothy. The funeral service is to be held at Wheelock Methodist Church on Monday, 24th February at noon, followed by committal at Crewe Crematorium. Family flowers only; donations, if desired, to the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK. All enquiries to Williams and Lowe Funeral Directors, Field House, 40, Congleton Road, Sandbach, CW11 1HJ, 01270 750 852.
WILSON (Neville Leslie). Peacefully on Tuesday, 21st January 2025, Neville, aged 68, late of Brereton, Sandbach. The devoted husband of Geraldine; loving father of Luke; Neville was also a loving uncle to David and Heather, and great-uncle to Evie, Halle and Genna. Neville will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. Taken to soon. His funeral will take place at St Oswald’s Church, Brereton, on Tuesday, 25th February at 11am. Family flowers only, by request; donations, if desired, to British Lung Foundation All enquiries to Three Shires Independent Funeral Services, The Old Band Club, Worrall Street, Congleton, 01260 279 507.
