On Tuesday 21st October 2014 we reported that with great sadness we had been informed that Eric Unsworth, a great friend and supporter to this team, had recently passed away due to the ravages of dementia.

Eric was known to many of our longer serving members as the organiser of the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Bomber Memorial at Lead Mines Valley, Anglezarke.

Indeed we understand that Eric was the driving force behind re-establishing this now very well attended annual service.

Eric, a member of the West Lancashire Long Distance Walkers Association, and also in the past of Chorley Ramblers, was known to us as a kindly gentleman, who sadly through ill health could no longer appear in recent years at the Bomber Memorial Service he so dearly liked to attend, to honour the young airmen who died in the Wellington Bomber crash.

At the time of our being informed, we passed on our condolences to his daughter Paula Cocker, his family, friends and colleagues in West Lancashire LDWA, plus those in Chorley Ramblers who also knew him.

At this year’s Remembrance Service at the Bomber Memorial, a prayer was said in memory of Eric (Please see ‘News’ report dated Sunday 9th November 2014)

This evening at 19.00hrs the team was pleased to receive as honoured guests at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ a visit by Paula Cocker, the daughter of Eric, her son Lewis, (Grandson to Eric) and their family friend Denise Hicks.

Paula and Lewis, accompanied by Denise, were attending to hand over to the team a great many donations made in lieu of flowers at Eric’s funeral, it being decided that donations to Bolton MRT would be an appropriate cause close to Eric’s heart to support.

All three were warmly met by Team Secretary and Support Group member Gillian Gregory, Call Out list member Mark Scott and Kris Kilshaw, Equipment Officer – Base and Catering Paul Copley and our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE.

Paula Cocker handed over very thoughtful donations totalling £175.00 to the team.

In turn our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE showed Paula, Lewis and Denise, a newly commissioned by the team plaque, dedicated to the memory of the late Eric Unsworth, which will be erected alongside other dedication plaques, on the walls of our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

It was Paula’s wish that we use this overall donation against a specific purpose, and to this end, our recent purchase of six specialist Tympanic Thermometers, has been totally funded by this very kind donation.

Mark Scott went on to show and demonstrate to Paula, Lewis and Denise, one of our brand new Tympanic thermometers.

All to soon it was time for Paula, Lewis and Denise to leave, but before doing so they were all given a Team Supporters Car Sticker and a metal Mountain Rescue Supporters lapel badge (Paula also took some for her sister in Australia and her brother)

The entire team membership wishes to pass on thanks to all the family members and friends of the late Eric Unsworth, who kindly contributed to this wonderfully thoughtful overall £175.00 donation.

Finally we would like to take the liberty of quoting directly from one donation made by Mr and Mrs Brown to Eric’s memory ;

“This donation is in memory of Mr Eric Unsworth, who loved the outdoor life and the pleasure he got from it.”