Bolton police inspector honoured by family's tribute

Phillip Arthur Buckthorpe worked in Bolton as a police inspector for 30 years before retiring his duties and becoming a bailiff.

The 65-year-old died peacefully in his sleep on April 15 this year, a shock to his family, who are now walking 20 miles from the Yorkshire border in Walsden, along the canal and into Manchester to raise awareness around heart health and the benefits walking can have on the heart.

His eldest daughter, Alison Clark said she had started walking for her health after her dad’s sudden death made her realise, she needed to do more physical activity herself.

Alison said: “We were all in pieces and the only thing that brought me ease was walking, so I started walking to make myself feel better.

“I was looking at the British Heart Foundation website because he was only 65 and it does make you question your own mortality.”

Alison will walk along with her mum, three brothers and her eldest niece.

She said: “Walking has really helped us cope with things, and my brothers do a lot of running already.

“There was only standing room at his funeral because a lot of people remembered him, he touched the lives of so many people.”

The walk, although emotional, brought the family together in his memory.

Ms Clark said that her dad’s death had not been easy for the whole family.

She said: “It was a shock to us because he was very active, loved his job and was a family man.

“He looked after everyone and was the backbone of the family.

“I am really missing him especially while moving houses and not having him there.

“We just did not see it coming and were even making plans for Christmas.”

The family have been left devasted by Mr Buckthorpe’s death with daughter Alison describing him as ‘hilarious.’

Alison said: “He was hilarious and just a brilliant dad.

“He was there for everything.”

Donate to the family’s Just Giving page. www.justgiving.com/page/alison-clark-1685824995681?