Each day, the Manchester Evening News print edition carries memorial tributes and funeral notices for those who have recently lost a loved one. These announcements allow families to celebrate the lives of family and friends, express gratitude to the health and care teams who looked after them, and share details of funerals, fundraising and flowers with the community. The complete list of family announcements is available on the Manchester Evening News section of our partner website funeral-notices.co.uk.
Here is a selection of notices published in the newspaper over the past week, reproduced here for our online readers.
Death notices and tributes
John Beasley, born Edmund Beasley in 1929 in the East End of London, was the second of four children. His father worked as a dock labourer. After the family broke up when he was six, the children were sent to orphanages and often had no contact, though John and his elder brother George managed to keep in touch. At school, he acquired the nickname John because there were three boys named Edmund in his class. His first job, after leaving school without formal qualifications, was in a laundry filling enormous drums with dirty clothes. During that time, he played football for a local team and was spotted by a scout from Tottenham Hotspur, joining their youth squad. Football was his life for a while before he was called up for National Service.
John later worked in a factory making spectacle lenses, where he met ophthalmic optician Geoffrey Mills, who encouraged him to escape the "dead-end job". After several years of studying, mainly at evening classes after full days of work, he qualified as an optician and practiced in Edgware. He joined the Labour Party in Islington North, became a councillor in 1956, and soon chaired the St Pancras local health committee and served on the Area Health Authority. He later served on the London Borough of Brent council.
In 1961, John met his future wife, Ann, at a Fabian Society weekend school studying local government. They married that year and soon had sons Roger and Alan. The family often holidayed in Rochdale because Ann missed the hills of her native Halifax and her friend Jean Orton lived there. In 1974, they moved to Rochdale, where John took over Blackhams opticians on Drake Street, which became Blackham and Beasley. When the boys were young, they saw little of their father because he often went from work straight to meetings of the Labour Party or local groups such as tenants' associations, voluntary organisations and community centres. Holidays were therefore an important part of family life, mostly walking holidays.
By the late 1970s, the Rochdale Labour Party headquarters was very run down. John helped raise funds for a new one, and by 1982 enough money was available to buy a building on Oldham Road. In 1980, he was elected councillor for Castleton, serving four years. In 1985, a by-election was called in Central and Falinge, a strong Liberal ward, and a planned holiday was cancelled so John could fight the election. People said he had no chance, but his determination, organisation and hard work proved them wrong. John retired as an optician in 1991 because proposed tramlines were expected to run through his practice, though they were not built until years later. He became Mayor of Rochdale in 1994, a year that included the 150th anniversary of the first Co-op shop on Toad Lane and a visit from the Queen. During his year of office, his granddaughter Holly was born, and he saw more of her in her early years than he had of his own sons. Family holidays then became more seaside-oriented. In 2002, he stepped down as a councillor but remained active as a trustee of the Labour headquarters and served on committees including Sudden Community Centre and the Council for Voluntary Service. In 2004, he was made a Freeman of the Borough of Rochdale. After his death at Springhill Hospice on 9 May 2017, flags at Rochdale Town Hall flew at half-mast and the Labour headquarters was renamed John Beasley House.
Ann Margaret Beckett died on 30 July 2014. A tribute from Judd and family says that although some may forget her, her love lasts forever, and she is never forgotten. The message ends with "Goodnight and God bless babe."
Peter David Brennan, of Ramsbottom, died peacefully on 11 July 2026, aged 75. He was the dearly beloved husband of the late Margaret, much loved father of Craig, and a dearly loved younger brother of Tony and the late Michael and Kevin. The funeral service will be held at Dundee United Reformed Church, Ramsbottom on Wednesday 5 August at 1pm, followed by interment at Ramsbottom Cemetery. Family flowers only; donations if desired for Diabetes UK can be made via the funeral director's website. Enquiries to Paul Williams Independent Funeral Directors.
Nellie, John, Gwen, Alan, Glyn and David Cole are remembered in a tribute that says time passes but memories never fade. The message, signed "Von", says they are loved and missed.
Norma Georgina Devereux, of Rochdale, died peacefully on 16 July 2026 at Monacliffe Nursing Home in Littleborough, aged 90. She was mother of Stephen, Martin, Paul, Chris and Anthony, grandmother of Melanie and Simone, great-grandmother of Romy and Neive, sister to Linda, and auntie of April and Robert. Formerly of Taylor Engineering and Plastics, she will be sadly missed. The funeral will be held at Rochdale Crematorium on Thursday 6 August at 9:30am. Those wishing to attend should contact the provided number.
Sheila Harding died peacefully at home on 21 July 2026, aged 77. She was the much loved wife of Ian, beloved mum of Sarah and Gareth, loving grandma of Joshua and Olivia, and dear mother-in-law to Jo and Si. The funeral service will take place at Rochdale Crematorium on Friday 7 August at 1:00pm. Family flowers only; donations if desired to Springhill Hospice. Enquiries to Bridgefold Funeral Service.
Leon Hartshorne, also known as Johnny Tremane, Bristol entertainer and retired engineer (BOC), passed away peacefully on 8 July, aged 91. The funeral will be held at Canford Crematorium on 3 August at 2:15pm. Donations to St Peter's Hospice and Marie Curie are appreciated. He is reunited with his late wife Eileen. Loved and never forgotten.
Rosewarren Johnson family memorial: In loving memory of Gertrude and James Rosewarren on their wedding anniversary, and other family members: John James Johnson (1844-1903, aged 59), Rose Lillian Perkins nee Johnson (1865-1906, aged 40), Alice May Fagan (1907-1908, aged 15 months), Walter Edward Fagan (1909-1910, aged 13 months, children of Phoebe and Walter Edward Fagan), Florence Stockton nee Johnson (1871-1923, aged 52), Sarah Ann Johnson nee Wilson (1842-1926, aged 85), James Rosewarren (1882-1953, aged 70, beloved husband of Gertrude Rosewarren), and Gertrude Rosewarren nee Johnson (1883-1954, aged 71, known as Nin). The message includes the phrase "Ego Paenitet Sed Vere Conasus" and is signed J.B.G.L.
Helen Lloyd-Jones, formerly of Brynford and later Buckley, loved playing hockey at Buttonwood, Wrexham and Buckley, and golf at Mold Golf Club. A retired Police Constable, she worked in child protection, for the police federation as a detective in CID, and as a beloved school liaison officer. She played and organised hockey for North Wales Police and played golf for PSUK. She later became a teaching assistant at Bryn Coch and Glanrafon. She volunteered as chair for national retired police officers, managed teams for Flintshire and Denbigh County Golf, and served as a Family Court Magistrate in Wrexham. The funeral will be at Northop Crematorium on 7 August 2026 at 1pm, followed by refreshments at The Red Lion, Northop. The colour theme is lemon yellow, black, pink and fuchsia. Donations to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Wirral are welcomed with gratitude. Family flowers only. There will be a book at the wake for stories about Helen. Enquiries to Busby & Kane Independent Funeral Directors.
Sister Beatrice Alicia Molyneux FCJ died peacefully on 12 July 2026 at Katherine House, Kersal, aged 86, in the 67th year of her religious profession. She will be deeply missed by her family, FCJ Sisters, past colleagues, past pupils and many friends. A Requiem Mass will be offered at Our Lady of Dolour's Servite Church on Monday 10 August at 11am, followed by interment in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Enquiries to Paul Williams Independent Funeral Directors.
Jennifer Marion Newton, of Marple, passed away peacefully at home on 18 July 2026, aged 88. The funeral will be held at Stockport Crematorium (Cypress Chapel) on Monday 3 August at 12 noon.
Joan Pickering died peacefully at home on 14 July 2026, aged 79. She was a much loved and greatly missed wife, mum and grandma. The funeral service will be at Rochdale Crematorium on Wednesday 29 July at 1:00pm. Family flowers only; donations if desired to Manchester Dog's Home. Enquiries to Dixons Funeral Service.
Jack Pickston passed away suddenly on Monday 20 July 2026, aged 72. He was the most devoted, loving, kind and generous husband to Bev, much loved dad to Lewis, loving brother to Gez, and much loved uncle to Lou, Brett and Lee. The funeral service will be at Rochdale Crematorium on Tuesday 11 August at 3pm. Jack did not want flowers; instead, people are asked to wear whatever colour they like and celebrate his life at Heywood Cricket Club after the service. Donations in his memory to Springhill Hospice are greatly received.
Muriel Platt died peacefully on Thursday 23 July 2026, aged 95. She was the much loved wife of the late Harold, beloved mum of Michael, Yvonne and Graham, and a cherished grandma, great-grandma, sister, sister-in-law, aunty and friend to many. The funeral service will be on Tuesday 11 August at 11:00am at Agecroft Crematorium, Langley Road, Salford. No flowers by request. Donations if desired to the British Heart Foundation. Enquiries to Prestwich Coop Funeralcare.
Eric and Allan (Ralph and Moffatt) are remembered as two cousins who died on 29 July 1950. The tribute says their sweet smiles are gone forever, but their memory will never be lost, and they are loved dearly by the family.
John Harrington Rimmer died peacefully on 19 July 2026, aged 87, after a short illness. He was the devoted husband of Moira, loving dad to Juliet, Lisa and Emma, father-in-law to Simon, and cherished granddad to Grace, Leila, Theo, Esme, Lucas, Fred and Alice. The service will be at Cheltenham Cemetery and Crematorium, Willow Chapel, on Friday 14 August at 10:30am, followed by a gathering in the Old Chapel. Family flowers only; donations to The Samaritans.
Sandra Stansfield (14 June 1953 - 26 July 2012) is missed very much. A message from B says "God bless, brave sweet lady."
Deborah Williams passed away peacefully on 22 July 2026 after a short illness, surrounded by her loving family, aged 63. She was the beloved partner of Steve, much loved mum of Ian and Philip, daughter of Dorothy and the late Richard, mother-in-law to Vicky and Sian, devoted nanna of Heidi and Sadie, and a much-loved sister and auntie. The funeral service will be at Rochdale Crematorium on Tuesday 11 August at 11:30am. Donations if desired to Cancer Research UK. Enquiries to Bernadette Gibson Funeral Director, Fairfield House Funeral Home.
