Lord Tom Pendry has paid tribute to a Labour Party stalwart who played a major part in helping him become MP for Stalybridge and Hyde more than 50 years ago.
Speaking in praise of Marjorie Lancashire (pictured), who died on January 16, he said: “I first met Marjorie during my General Election campaign in 1970 and we had been friends ever since.
“She was a great Labour Party stalwart and lovely lady and I used to visit her in Hyde where she had lived her life.
“Marjorie had all my election addresses and cuttings. She was a big fan of mine and I was certainly a big fan of her. She will be missed by her family and everyone who knew her.”
Born on April 17, 1921, Marjorie was well known in her hometown, particularly by staff and volunteers in charity shops which she loved to visit.
Marjorie had lived at Grange Road South from 1956, moving to Werneth Court in 2001 following the loss of her beloved husband Joe in 2000, living independently up to the age of 96, taking walks into Hyde most days, browsing the charity shops and the market.
Her family have a treasured photograph of Marjorie which shows her with a group of people outside Hyde Town Hall in the late 1940s, with Clement Attlee leaving the building.
A lifelong Labour supporter, she became an active party worker with the election of Fred Blackburn as Stalybridge and Hyde MP in 1952, then working closely with the then Tom Pendry in his committee rooms, as he became MP in 1970.
Marjorie married her husband Joe in 1942 and it would have been their 79th wedding anniversary on the day before she passed away.
Marjorie worked at Newton Mill, Hyde, from leaving school, then at the Walls bakehouse in Godley. She was also a dinner lady at Holy Trinity School, Gee Cross.
Following her retirement, although her family say ‘she didn't really retire’, Marjorie filled her days caring for her grandchildren and working in her daughter’s shop, Grange Farm Feeds in Mottram.
She leaves her married son Tony, daughter Jean, grandchildren James, Jill, Alison and Chris and great grandchildren Lauren, Bella, Rowan and Jude.
Grandaughter Alison said: “Grandma was a Manchester United supporter, she loved watching all sport, from athletics to rugby; the Irish rugby team was one of her favourites.
“We have chosen Marcus Rashford FoodShare for donations as Grandma, no matter what, always had food in her cupboard. She would never have liked to see anyone go hungry.”
Donations can be made directly to FareShare by sending a text to 70450, visiting their website www.faresharegm.org.uk or in person at Grange Farm Feeds, Mottram.
Lord Tom Pendry
Read more from the Tameside Reporter
Click here for more of the latest news
Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online
Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper
WATCH: Shocking hit and run outside Ashton polling station
ELECTION: Indy candidate who clinched long-held Labour seat says he will 'shake up the status quo'
ELECTION: The list of winners and losers
ELECTION: The turnout for each ward being contested in Tameside
