Hundreds mourn death of equality campaigner
7:42pm Friday 6th July 2007 in Your Town By Amanda Smith
HUNDREDS of people have paid their last respects to one of Bolton's most highly regarded race equality campaigners.
Anne Gough died aged 61 at the Royal Bolton Hospital last week following a battle with breast cancer.
She had been a committee member of Bolton Racial Equality Council (BREC) since 1976 and was also founding chairman of the Bolton Racial Harassment Initiative.
More than 300 people attended her funeral at Bolton Parish Church yesterday including all three Bolton MPs.
Ruth Kelly had stayed at Mrs Gough's home when she was first appointed as the Bolton West MP.
Family friend John Gillatt paid tribute to her. He said: "She was a wonderful mother, a wonderful wife, and loving daughter and she befriended everyone she met. She was a close friend and full of fun.
"She will never be replaced and her spirit will keep her alive in our hearts and minds."
Mrs Gough fought off breast cancer once, having been diagnosed in 1997, and went on to raise funds for the Christie Hospital in Manchester, where she was treated.
Rev Phillip Kearse, who led the service, said she was an extremely hard working, determined and passionate person who wanted to be involved with all parts of community life.
In 2005, Mrs Gough was honoured at the Bolton Diversity Awards for her campaigning against all forms of discrimination.
The hymns sung at the funeral included All Things Bright and Beautiful and Jerusalem.
Mrs Gough, who moved to Bolton in 1972 and lived in Heaton, set up a community playgroup in Harwood and began teaching English to immigrant factory workers. She retired as a teacher at Bolton Community College last year to take on a staff roll within BREC.
Mrs Gough leaves a husband Graham, aged 60, and daughter Alison, aged 34.
