WalterHOLMESOn 2nd January 2024, renowned local historian Walter, aged 92 years passed away peacefully at home after a short illness. Husband of Alicia, father to Cath, Adrienne, and Alison. Proud Grandad to Luke, and father-in-law of Gavin. Walter left school aged 14 and began an apprenticeship as a patternmaker at Lang Bridge & Co, followed by spells at Howard & Bullough and the Bristol Aircraft Company. He joined the RAF for a short while, before becoming a fireman at Accrington fire station. He worked as a Fireman at Accrington Fire Station for nearly 30 years and became a FB Union rep, supporting and campaigning for colleagues which continued well into his retirement. Whilst serving there he started his hobby of documenting the history of Accrington and surrounding district. Walter then, along with fellow researcher the late Bill Turner, spent decades researching and tracing the Accrington Pals / 11th East Lancashire Regiment and men of Greater Accrington. He continued their work after Bill's death in 2007 and up to a few months before his own passing. Following a Civic trip to Serre, France, 1 July 2016 to commemorate the centenary of the first day of the BattIe of the Somme, a medal was presented for Walter by the Maire de Bapaume, Jean-Jacques Cottel for Walter's work on the Accrington Pals and 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington) East Lancashire Regiment . "The honour is presented to a person who has contributed to the town's reputation or played an important role in the life of the community." An award he was quietly very proud of. In his young years he was a keen and competition winning marksman; a biker, travelling all over the country and several times to the Isle of Man TT races on his Triumph motorbike. He enjoyed tinkering and mechanicing with his bikes and then cars, had worked as a steeplejack, was a talented craftsman making and repairing many things in wood or metal, jewellery making and enjoyed his garden where he grew his award winning vegetables. Funeral service and burial will take place at Accrington Cemetery, Burnley Rd on Friday 19th January 13:00. No flowers please, but donations in memory of Walter can be made to either North West Blood Bikes or The East Lancashire Hospice.
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