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Death of RL legend (add your tributes)
Tributes have been paid to a rugby league legend and charity worker from Wigan who has died.
Parry Gordon, who spent 18 years as a player with Warrington and was a volunteer at Butterflies charity shop in Newtown, died suddenly on Tuesday aged 64.
Parry, from Old Lane, Shevington, made 543 appearances for Warrington, standing second in the club's all-time list behind Australian wing legend Brian Bevan, scoring 167 tries from 1963-1981.
After his retirement, Parry became a prominent fund-raiser with Butterflies charity shop which was founded 14 years ago by his wife, Valerie, and Catherine Martindale.
Catherine said: "He was a wonderful man. We couldn't have managed without him at the shop."
Catherine's husband Fred Martindale, who knew Parry for 55 years, said: "Parry was invaluable to Butterflies and was heavily involved, particularly in the last couple of years.
"He was a very modest man, a great friend and a brilliant player who was always happy to talk to people about rugby league."
Parry was generally regarded as the best scrum-half never to have gained a full cap for Great Britain.
The nearest the Wigan-born player came was as a non-playing substitute
with the World Cup squad in Papua New Guinea in 1975.
Parry was father to daughters Andrea, Paula and Karen, who died of cancer four years ago.
A tribute from the family said: "We would like to thank everyone, we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received.
"We have always known he was the greatest husband, dad and grandad that anyone could wish for but we didn't realise just how much he was loved and respected by everyone else.
"We are devastated at losing him so suddenly.
"He was an inspiration to so many and we are very proud of the man he was."
Parry was employed as a fitter at British Aerospace and had a brief spell at British Telecom before taking up work at Butterflies.
The charity shop, in Ormskirk Road, is run by volunteers and sells various items such as bric-a-brac, clothes, books and CDs, with all proceeds going towards the charity.
Butterflies also holds Christmas parties for the children and organises various fund-raising events throughout the year.
Mr Gordon's funeral will take place at St Bernadette's Church in Shevington, on Friday, November 13 at noon.
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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