John LewisHOLDENMr John Lewis Holden, of Haslingden, passed away peacefully at home after a long illness, on Monday, March 1st, aged 89. In his youth, John was a bell-ringer and chorister head boy at St James Church, Haslingden, and a solo drummer in the Church Lads Brigade. A keen sportsman, he was Rossendale tabletennis champion in 1949 and goalkeeper for St James football team. John was also a member of Haslingden Arts Club and, on returning from National Service where he was a gunnery instructor in the RAF Regiment, he met his wife Maureen when asked to produce a pantomime for Haslingden Youth Club. For many years John travelled widely as a sea-angler, fishing from Arran, Ullapool, Brixham, Kinsale, Mexico, Florida, Kenya and Australia. John was a carpet retailer by trade. He owned Rawtenstall Carpets on Bank Street, Rawtenstall for many years and latterly managed Walmersley Carpets in Higher Deardengate, Haslingden, before retiring in 2000. He was a past Master of Commerce Lodge 215 and a previous member of the Chapter of Wisdom 283. He leaves behind his wife Maureen, son John (Skip) and daughter Jeannette, grandchildren Jack, Sam and Lucy, and great-grandson Robert, also step-granddaughter Nikki and her daughters Gabbi and Eden in Australia. Due to current restrictions a private funeral service will take place at Accrington Crematorium Chapel on Friday, March 12th. Family flowers only; donations if desired in memory of John to Rossendale Hospice c/o funeral director Caroline Holden-Dewhurst for Johnson, Durning and Woods Funeral Service.
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