Tributes paid to dedicated Salvation Army member who was a regular presence in Wigan town centre

Lynn Northall became a familiar face to both shoppers and traders at The Galleries shopping centre at weekends, who would see her selling the Salvation Army’s War Cry in Makinson Arcade.

She was a dedicated member of the church in Scholes, which she had attended for more than 30 years, and was involved with various activities there.

Major Mark Lewis, minister of the Salvation Army’s Wigan Corps, said: “We want to thank God for her life and the fact that she has had such a positive influence within the town as a Christian person.”

Lynn, who was the oldest of six children, had lived in Wigan for many years and never married.

She officially became a member of the Salvation Army in 1996, though she had been attending for several years before that.

Major Lewis said: “On a Saturday morning, from about 9.30am until probably 2 or 3pm, she would stand in Makinson Arcade and sell the Salvation Army’s papers, which are the War Cry and Kids Alive. People would put donations in the collecting tin, she would talk to people and be a listening ear.”

He recalled a story from Lynn in which the parents of a boy who would sometimes wander off in the town centre on Saturdays told him to go to her if he got lost, so they could find him.

Lynn, who lived in Scholes, attended Sunday services and Bible study, as well as helping to run coffee mornings.

Major Lewis described her as a “strong and determined” person who enjoyed reading, holidays alone to locations around the world and attending Keswick Convention every year, a religious event lasting several weeks.

He said she became “really upset or cross” if people did not tell the truth, whether intentional or not, and always put them right.

Major Lewis said: “Those that knew Lynn would know she had a very pronounced stammer and that affected her pretty much every day of her life. I think she found that quite hard to deal with. What we did find quite miraculous was the fact that when she went to sell her War Cry in the town centre, she didn’t have a stammer. All we can do is attribute that to God’s willingness for her to do that task. I find that incredible.”

Those that knew Lynn from her work at The Galleries also paid tribute to her.

Centre manager Simon Tucker said: “We were deeply saddened to hear of Lynn’s passing. She was a much liked and respected lady, as well as being a regular in Makinson Arcade where she helped to raise funds for the Salvation Army for many years. Our condolences go out her family.”

Scott Taylor, from Terry’s Cards, who had known Lynn since 2013, said: “She was a lovely lady, very humorous, very kind, very knowledgeable and well travelled.

“She used to go all over the world alone. She went on holiday to the Lakes, went to Australia, went whale watching in South Africa. People didn’t realise how much she had done.”

He added: “We will miss her very much.”

Lynn died on Thursday, June 11 after an illness. A funeral will be held at 11am on Thursday, June 25 at Wigan Crematorium.

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