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Guardian's Doreen loses cancer battle
A popular Euxton woman who worked for many years at the Chorley Guardian has lost her brave fight against cancer.
Doreen Barker was secretary to the then editor George Birtill for 17 years. She left just months before her son, Paul, was born.
The keen golfer, who was married to Keith Barker for 52 years, was diagnosed with cancer in her liver and lungs last November.
She died aged 74 at the home in Runshaw Lane, Euxton, which she had shared with Keith for 50 years.
Doreen was born in Coppull on November 5, 1934, and went to Coppull Old Parish School.
After leaving, she worked in a cake shop but then joined the Chorley Guardian, working in the office.
She studied book-keeping and typing at night school and when Mr Birtill's secretary left, she took over.
Keith said: "She typed most of the books George Birtill wrote because he had very bad handwriting and my wife could read it.
"When United News took over the company, they wanted someone to do book keeping and accounts and she had been to night school to do all these things."
Doreen left to have Paul, who was born in 1969.
Keith said: "A few years later when she was chatting with mums at the school gates, she found out there was a firm looking for someone to do the wages one day a week.
"She joined ARM Construction and over the years worked there as accounts manager and office manager. She retired from there at 65."
Keith, who is from Chorley, said the couple met at a dance at Rivington Barn and added: "I had an old banger so I was in popular demand because there were no buses home.
"We got married at Chorley Parish Church in 1956."
Paul, who lives in Croston, is their only child. They also have two grandchildren.
Mr Barker said his wife's only hobby was golf – if she wasn't playing, she was watching it on television.
He said: "She first played at Fishwick Golf Club and had been lady captain, but she left and went to Penwortham Golf Club.
"She used to go on a golfing trip to Scotland every year.
"She entered lots of open competitions and she played up until October, despite having arthritis.
"She loved it. We have Sky television and if there was golf on that was it. I only got to watch football occasionally!"
Mr Birtill's son, David, said: "I was very fond of Doreen and she understood journalists. My dad relied on her very heavily."
A funeral service is to be held at 2pm today, Wednesday, at Euxton Parish Church, followed by cremation at Charnock Richard.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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