Grandmother's dying wish for her collection of glamorous dresses to be auctioned off for Bolton Hospice becomes a reality

She loved the 24 beautiful gowns she had collected over the years spent on cruise holidays with her husband Ken.

During her final days in Bolton Hospice, her last wish was that her beloved collection should not be bundled up and sent to a charity shop — but sold to benefit the hospice.

After 66-year-old Mrs Humphries died from cancer on December 22 last year her daughters Claire Brown and Tracy Stuart, together with relatives Katrina Hargreaves and Yasmin Twist, were determined to honour her request.

They hit upon the idea of auctioning off Kathleen’s prized collection at a ladies night and fashion show — with the night celebrating the lives of Kathleen, Claire’s father-in-law James Brown and Katrina and Yasmin’s father, Mohammed Abdul Naeem, who were all treated at the hospice.

The event at Ridgmont House in Horwich was attended by 100 friends, family and colleagues and included a raffle and bottle tombola with more than £6,200 being raised for hospice funds.

Mrs Brown said: "My mum would have absolutely loved it. She would have been in her element knowing she had her own fashion show."

The dresses were carefully stored by Mrs Humphries, who worked as a dinner lady at Claypool Primary School near her Horwich home for 25 years.

Mrs Brown added: "She was extremely glamorous and one of the kindest people you could ever know — she was beautiful inside and out.

"Her dresses were stunning and she kept them immaculate She had some amazing clothes."

The auction was rounded off with guests being invited to write messages to departed loved ones which were then attached to balloons and let go into the night sky.

Mohammed Naeem

The balloon release

FASHION: Michaela Kelly

BROTHERS: Zak Harrison-Twist and Jordan Harrison-Twist