How upset & shocked I was when I heard the news that our beloved local newspaper columnist Lesley Richards lost her battle with cancer last week at the age of 62.“She voiced her opinion boldly in her weekly comment column – much to the delight of most readers – and was particularly good at writing human interest stories, maybe because she led such an interesting life herself.
“From schoolgirl athletics star, to 60s glamour girl, ambitious reporter and one of the in-crowd, rebel rouser, newspaper editor to avid antiques collector and animal lover.
"She was happiest walking her dog along the canal towpath, tending her garden or spending her lunchtimes in local charity shops. ”
Also paying tribute to Lesley was her former colleague and ex 80’s sitcom “Watching” & Coronation Street actor Dave Dutton, he added:
“Lesley was a good reporter who had the best interests of the community in her thoughts and words.
“I spoke to her a week or so before she died and she sounded in high spirits because her new chemo treatment seemed to be working better, which made it more of a shock when I learned she had died.
“She was a Lancashire schoolgirl champion hurdler but her illness sadly proved a hurdle too far.”
Gary Brunskill (ex-Leigh Weekly News and now Lancashire Publications) said:
"Lesley showed tremendous generosity of spirit. Once after doing her a favour she repaid me by knitting two Ninja Turtle sweaters for my children.
"She was a tremendous girl and editor. When she got a new company car the reg. no. began BKB. She told us that meant “Bloody Kind Boss” - it did, and she was. She was a ‘one-off’ and I miss her already."
Geoffrey Shryhane ( Wigan Observer Columnist) paid this final tribute to Les:
“Straight as a die, Les Richards had a great sense of humour and zestful approach to her work. These were her hallmarks.
“Les loved going out for a pie and a pint with the lads. Played cards when Friday was a slack day. And she loved beating the printers in the works at table tennis in the canteen.
“Later she then joined the Journal and her weekly column (Sez Les) gained a loyal band of readers. She wrote what people thought. She sometimes grumbled...and readers loved it...and usually agreed.”
She died after what friends have described as a “private and courageous” battle with cancer at the age of 62.
Her funeral, which shall be held on Friday 4th November, will be conducted by Malcolm Ryding, who was editor of the Leigh Journal from 1979 to 2001 before becoming a Church of England lay reader.
The funeral shall be at 10.45 at the Howebridge crematorium and any donations shall go to the Wigan and Leigh Hospice.
I am incredibly saddened by the death of Lesley, she was a well known local and whose personality shone through on her weekly column. I was inspired by her writing and passion & I myself had spoken to her on more than one occasion when I contacted the Leigh Journal due to me wanting to do some pieces for the paper. She gave me advice and her opinion on my pieces which I valued and took on board. This is an extremely sad day for the Journalism industry, it has lost such a talented lady and one whose words of advice are still ringing in my ears at this very moment. It is people like Lesley who are an inspiration to the likes of us hopeful and upcoming professionals, her work and contributions shall never be forgotten and the Leigh Journal shall be remembered for her offerings which were respected by the local community. I myself aspire to build myself a career such as she had and can only hope that I at some stage move in the circles she once did and to do her local memory proud. I’m sure I echo everybody's sympathies to her memory and indeed her family of whom she has left behind.
Matt Howarth- Straight from the heart [VIEW HERE]
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