Wigan much loved character remembered with domino event

Derek Bird died suddenly in June 2022.

He was born and bred in Aspull and was known and loved by everyone in the area.

He supported the One House every day it was open which was his next port of call when he collapsed.

Derek was very protective of his family, his treasured memory was visiting his niece Kelly for her wedding in Australia and seeing Poppy, Kelly’s daughter, who was just a few weeks old at the time.

He is missed by his two brothers, Ken and Philip, and his sister Susan who he doted over.

Derek's one love was Lorna his partner of many years who passed away a few years ago

He regularly visited most of the local pubs.

He always ended up in the British Legion to play dominoes.

People in the Legion wanted to do something to remember Derek and raise money for the British Heart Foundation so Elsie, Dave and Wally organised a memorial darts and dominoes evening which is now in its third year and raised £280.

Andrea Dean, volunteer at the One House, said “You could set your clock with Derek. We all had a great love of Derek and we miss him every day.”

Stephen Hough and Paul Sumner, two of Derek's closest friends said: “Not a day goes past without us thinking about Derek and all the laughs we had with him.

"Memories of jangling keys around his waist, now the church bells ring in his absence,

“A true character sadly missed but never to be forgotten.

“A legend in many ways.

“Miss you loads mate.”