TRIBUTES have been paid to a hard-working and caring woman who has died after a long illness.

Brenda Marsh died on February 11.

The 79-year-old was the dearly beloved wife of Stan, loving mum to Les and Andrew, and a dear nana to Kristian and Jake. Brenda will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.

Stan said: “She was quite a studious person but she did like to go out and have some fun.

“She liked to go out for meals and also loved to go dancing.

“Before we got married we used to go to Chorlton’s near the Greyhounds in Westhoughton and we used to get a bronze medal in the dancing.”

Her links to Bolton was when she lived on Lindley Street in Kearsley and she helped her parents when they worked on the Outdoor Beer Licence in Farnworth.

Stan added: “It used to be a shop that sold beers and alcohol and tobacco.

“When she had done that she ran her own business, a fish and chip shop in Swinton.”

She worked at the British Oxygen Company in Swinton and worked on the Comptometer.

Stan talked about meeting Brenda in New Year’s Eve in 1958.

He said: “For what ever reason I was at a loose end, so I went to the pictures, the Savoy on Longcauseway, Farnworth.

“The film had already started as I walked down the aisle in the dark, and sat down.

“In those days half way through the film the lights came on for a lady to sell ice cream.

“When the lights came on I looked around the cinema and it was almost empty, but there was a lady sat just in front of me.

“As we were fairly close together in the cinema, we struck up a conversation, and I knew then that there was something special about this lady.

“It was snowing outside, and after the film, I walked Brenda back to her place in Farnworth.”

Stan added that Brenda enjoyed travelling.

“She loved knitting but did not have other hobbies.

“We went on a lot of cruises to the Caribbean, Balearics, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“She loved to watch soaps on the television and tennis and some sport.

“She was much-loved and we have had lots of cards and messages from family and friends.

“Brenda loved her family and would do anything for them, especially her parents.

“She worked hard and would never stop as she was easily bored and had to keep occupied.”

A funeral service will take place at Peel Green Crematorium on March 3 at 1.40pm. Donations in memory of Brenda to Bladder and Bowel UK. All Enquiries to Bridgfords Funeralcare, 23 Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 4AF Tel: 0161 793 1228.