Charismatic former Burnley nurse and social worker who specialised in working with deprived children dies at 81

Jim Wynne was born in Dundee and left school at 15 to become an apprentice baker. He eventually decided it was not the career for him and would often joke there 'wasn't enough dough' in it.

He began training as a psychiatric charge nurse at the Royal Dundee Liff Hospital before moving to Burnley to continue his career, initially working at the former Victoria Hospital.

He married fellow nurse, Margaret McMillan and the couple moved to Bromsgrove to further their nursing careers after tying the knot at St John the Baptist Church in Burnley.

They returned to Burnley in the late 1960s with their two daughters, Morag and Fiona, and they went on to have a son, Duncan. The couple later divorced.

Paying tribute to their father Morag and Fiona said: "Our father was full of life, had a very charismatic presence and was a very hands on dad.

"He changed nappies, baked bread, drove us everywhere and never tired of playing with us."

Devoting his time to the community, Jim was chairman of the PTA at the former St Hilda's RC High School, which was attended by his daughters. He also ran a youth club in Colne, where he was based as a social worker, for deprived children.

A big Clarets fan, Jim played for a number of amateur football teams and he was also a keen squash player and hill walker. Jim loved dancing and music and he has passed on that passion to his children and grandchildren.

To celebrate his 50th birthday Jim held a small party for friends and, although she was not able to attend in person Jim's first love, Irene Green, who he met at a dance in Dundee, spoke to him on the phone and they rekindled their romance.

The couple settled in Bridgend, Linlithgow in West Lothian, their home for the past 30 years and when he moved back to Scotland Jim returned to the field of mental health and became a volunteer on support helplines set up for the family and friends of victims of the Hillsborough tragedy.

A dog lover, Jim kept German Shepherds all his adult life and continued to walk his pet, Kia, throughout his illness.

Devoted to his family, including his seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Jim was also a talented bowler. Both Jim and Irene were members of the Philipstoun Bowling Club where they both played an integral part in the running of the club.

Jim was also very proud of the fact he was the winner of the Senior Champion of Champions in 2006.

In tribute to his grandfather, Jim's grandson, Jason Scott Wilkinson, plans to run from Burnley to Bridgend over five days to raise money for leukaemia research. He will be joined in the challenge, which involves running around 40 miles a day, with his friend Nathan Gibbons.

They are planning to do this in the last week of January, 2021 and anyone who would like to sponsor them is asked to click HERE.