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Pendleton mourns death of 'Uncle Billy' (75)
THE Ribble Valley has lost one its great characters with the death of William Henry Holgate, aged 75.
Known affectionately as "Uncle Billy", he was a larger than life character who had a huge circle of friends.
Billy was born in 1934 at Higher Standen Hey Farm, Pendleton. His heart was always at the family farm, where he worked all his life.
He was the son of the late Ernest and Martha Ellen Holgate and the younger brother of the late Florence. Billy was a bachelor, but his family was his great love - Florence, her late husband George Cowperthwaite and their family Edward, Helen and Rachel.
They were all born, bred and raised at Standen Hey. He was a devoted uncle and supported them all through the milestones of their lives after the early death of their father.
He was not only their uncle, but their best friend. He had many happy times with them all. Billy was also a great uncle and godfather to many. He attended Barrow Primary School followed by a short spell at Ribblesdale then Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackburn.
Billy was well liked and respected and had many good friends, young and old. He was one of the last true characters of Pendleton and had a great and sometimes wicked sense of humour which he shared with his friends in The Swan With Two Necks pub. He was greatly honoured to have been asked by Steve and Christine Dilworth to open the pub after recent refurbishment. There were many with tears in their eyes when it was revealed who the VIP was to perform the grand reopening, as Billy had struggled with ill-health for some time.
Billy had a wide range of interests, a former member of Clitheroe Young Farmers' Club, where he formed many friendships which lasted throughout his life, and a vice-president of the club, an honorary life member of Clitheroe Golf Club, member of Castle Masonic Lodge, Clitheroe 41 Club, a former parish councillor and former member of Clitheroe Round Table.
His death on March 10th will leave a huge gap in both his family's and friend's lives and Pendleton has lost a great character. His funeral takes place on Friday, at All Saints' Church in the village, at 2-30 p.m. followed by internment in the churchyard.
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Weather for Clitheroe
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
