Tributes have been paid to Brenda Davies of Lostock, who passed away at the Royal Bolton Hospital on January 14 at the age of 83.

Brenda was the wife of the late James (Jim) Davies, and a very much-loved mother to her sons Stephen and Michael.

Born and raised in Westhoughton, Brenda moved to Lostock not long after the birth of her second child.

She was a nurse for the entirety of her working life, caring for people at both the Bolton Royal Infirmary, as it was then called, and the former Townley’s Hospital.

MORE: Tributes for loving grandma and legal secretary from Bolton

She later turned to industrial nursing, and spent several years working as an on-site nurse stationed at the Victoria Mill in Horwich.

Brenda, who worked several jobs when her sons were young, was also a landlady and employee at various pubs and venues around Bolton.

She was the joint licensee of the Empress Nightclub on the town’s Mealhouse Lane for a time during the 1970s, and also helped to run the Royal British Legion Club at Astley Bridge.

Somehow, she also found the time to volunteer with St John’s Ambulance, providing first aid at Bolton Wanderers Football Club matches at its Burnden Park stadium.

A bird-lover, Brenda had a pet parrot she adored.

MORE: Bolton Hospital's bid to upgrade 'Victorian' era buildings

She was known for her abilities to help injured creatures, and was often given rescue birds to nurse back to health in the aviaries she kept in her garden.

Once retired, she also invested hours selflessly knitting baby bonnets, blankets, onesies and cuddly toys for Bolton’s neo-natal units.

She supported the children’s hospice Derian House in its fundraising efforts, and regularly knitted items for the organisation to use or sell.

Brenda’s son Stephen paid a touching tribute to his mother, saying: “I think she left an impression on everybody who met her.

“We obviously loved her dearly because she was Mum, whereas many other people loved her dearly because of all she was.”

Brenda died a week shy of her 84th birthday.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nqnw.co.uk