Death of Nelson & Colne College hairdressing tutor

John Eaton passed on his skills to hairdressers throughout Burnley and Pendle when he taught at Nelson and Colne College. He joined the college in 1969 but was forced to retire 14 years ago after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage.

He was in a coma for weeks at the Royal Preston Hospital. Doctors were due to turn off his life support machine, but the family asked for one more day because the date co-incided with his nephew’s 21st birthday. During the night Mr Eaton began to recover. After leaving hospital he needed specialist nursing care and lived in nursing homes at Formby and Oldham before moving to the newly-opened Nelson Manor, Nelson, last August.

Mr Eaton moved from his home town of Nottingham to Nelson to take up his role at the college and lived in Walton Lane. His appointment also led to a wedding in the family when he introduced his twin brother, Chris, to his hairdressing colleague, Nina.

Mr Eaton said his brother had been very happy to return to his adopted home as it was easier for friends to visit him.

He enjoyed being with people and had had a champagne Royal Wedding celebration with friends at the nursing home. But, on Saturday morning, he developed a chest infection and was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital. He went into a coma and died on Sunday.

Mr Eaton leaves two brothers, nephews and great-nephews.

The funeral is on Wednesday at Burnley Crematorium, at noon. The family would like to buy a bench in his memory and have asked for donations in lieu of flowers.