Residents pay respects to landlady of The Stork Tavern, Halliwell

Jan Parker-Brooks ran The Stork Tavern on Halliwell Road with her husband Graham Brooks for 10 years. She was still serving customers until the coronavirus restrictions meant the pub had to close last March.

Sadly grandmother-of-four Jan suffered with a long-standing infection last year and then died aged 61 on February 10.

Jan Parker-Brooks

Her funeral took place last Monday at Overdale Crematorium, which was attended by a small number of loved ones due to government rules.

However, Jan's family arranged for the funeral cortege to pass the pub at around 11.30am to be given a final farewell by her punters and others who knew her.

Crowds of people lined Halliwell Road to pay their respects with flowers left on the ground.

Jan's coffin is carried by the funeral hearse outside The Stork Tavern in Halliwell

People line Halliwell Road near the pub on Monday

People line Halliwell Road near the pub on Monday

People line Halliwell Road near the pub on Monday

Jan's daughter Paula Butler, 36, said: "There were hundreds of people who were clapping and balloons were let off.

"I was so overwhelmed and got out the car to say how thankful to them that I was, it was unreal.

"I was so proud to see so many people and my mum would have been too."

Before taking on the pub, Jan worked as a travel agent, a dinner lady and a teaching assistant at Turton High School. She also beat breast cancer in 2008.

Jan Parker-Brooks

Graham was a plasterer, but after suffering with his health, the couple decided to become pub landlords.

Their popularity with locals soared, as they organised events in aid of charity such as the FoxFest music festival, which attracted hoards of revellers.

Jan loved cooking and held contests for customers to showcase different dishes. She also kept an allotment space at the back of the pub in which she taught children about food and provided patches for customers to grow produce on.

Pumpkin carving, Easter egg hunts and sports days for youngsters were regular seasonal occasions too.

Paula added: "She was amazing and everyone's pub mum. All the ideas she had for events were all hers and she was always thinking of ways to raise money for charity and how to help people.

"She loved being around people and making them happy.

"Someone described her as the matriarch of the community.

"She absolutely loved her grandchildren and she was my best friend. The kids meant the world to her.

"We have had tributes flooding in."

Jan also leaves behind her son John and grandchildren JJ, Isabelle, Harvey and Jamie.