Death of devoted Clarets' fan Gail known for her 'infectious smile' just two months after brain tumour diagnosis

Courageous Gail Astin had been preparing to start radiotherapy treatment when she collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital where she died last Thursday surrounded by family and friends.

Gail died in the Margaret Kerr Unit at Borders General Hospital, close to her home in the village of Ancrum in the Scottish borders, where she moved from Burnley with her husband Simon and their sons, Lewis (17) and 15-year-old Ryan nine years ago.

Paying tribute to his wife of 18 years, Simon said: "Gail was not only my wife, she was my best friend and soulmate who gave me our two wonderful sons.

"The messages of support and encouragement she received when we told people about her illness left her very humbled. She never realised how well liked she was."

When doctors broke the devastating news that the tumour was inoperable, but radiotherapy would give her more time, Gail opted for the treatment as she wanted to spend as much precious time with her family. She also drew up a 'bucket list' which included swimming with dolphins and a hot air balloon ride.

But at the top of the list was lunch with her favourite Claret Jay Rodriguez.

When the player tweeted he was sorry to hear that Gail was ill and he would love to meet her she was thrilled but sadly their lunch date had to be cancelled as it coincided with a hospital appointment.

Simon said: "After that Gail became gravely ill and was taken into hospital. But Jay Rod kept in touch and messaged to say how sorry he was to hear about Gail and he has got in a touch also to see how I am."

Burnley Football Club also posted its condolences on social media after hearing about Gail's death.

Gail's love of football came from her grandfather, Fred Thornton, who took her on Turf Moor for the first time when she was a teenager with her sister Amanda. Gail loved it and when her granddad and her dad, Alan Jolly, took her to see the Clarets play at Wembley she was hooked.

And it was their mutual love of the Clarets that brought Gail and Simon together 20 years ago.

Although from Burnley, Simon had spent several years living in Blackpool, and he started chatting with Gail through a supporters' online group.

They met when Gail offered to get Simon tickets for an important promotion game for Burnley. Their friendship blossomed into romance and within six months Simon had moved to Burnley and they were engaged. They tied the knot in August, 2002.

Regulars at Turf Moor, the couple still followed their team when Simon's work took them to their new home in Scotland and they would attend weekend and mid week matches as often as possible.

Simon said: "As the boys got older we started to take them and we even got season tickets.

"It was hard work travelling from so far away but Gail lived for the weekends. She loved meeting up with all the other supporters at the cricket club where the boys could play outside and run around.

"Gail made so many friends from all over the country though the football.

"Everyone always commented on her infectious smile and bubbly personality but she was also quite a private person and family was very important to her."

Gail grew up in Nelson and attended St John's C of E Primary School and the former Walton High School. She moved to Burnley with her family as a teenager.

Gail studied business and finance at Nelson and Colne College and spent several years working at Nelson based Manhatten Showers. She also worked at Direct Wallpapers in Plumbe Street, Burnley.

She loved music and had been to concerts to see her favourite bands including Take That and The Script. Gail also loved her summer holidays, reading and her pride and joy was her pet Yorkiepoo Princess Pippa.

Simon said: "Princess Pippa was her baby, like the daughter she never had and she even had a tattoo of a little crown with Pippa's name under it."

Hospital staff even allowed Pippa to go and visit Gail in the final days of her life.

A fundraising page set up to help Gail achieve her bucket list wishes raised £3,000 and Simon has vowed that he and his sons hope to fulfill some of her dreams in her memory when the time is right. One of Gail's closest friends, Lisa Byrom, has also raised £500 by signing up for the virtual London Marathon.

Gail's funeral will take place on Friday, October 9th, at Burnley Crematorium at 3-15pm, just four months after the death of her father Alan.

Although covid restrictions mean that only 30 people can attend, the service will be broadcast on a screen and speakers for those who wish to stand outside. There will also be a live webcast of the service and Gail's funeral cortege will go past Turf Moor, at around 2-45pm to 3pm, to give people a chance to pay their respects.

Simon has requested that people dress as they would for a match.

He said: "That is what Gail would have wanted as she was never happier than when fraternising with the away fans at the cricket club and being amongst her fellow Clarets.

"And although we moved to Scotland, her heart remained in Burnley and it was her wish for this to be her final resting place."

Gail also leaves her mum Sheila, sister Amanda, brothers-in-law Scott and James, sister-in-law Gemma,nieces Charlotte, Eve and Sian and nephew Dylan.