'˜Ray of sunshine' Clarets fan Lorna dies aged 51

A Burnley woman and avid Clarets supporter whose family said she was an 'absolute star' and 'ray of sunshine' has died at the age of 51.
Lorna Hargreaves (s)Lorna Hargreaves (s)
Lorna Hargreaves (s)

Lorna Hargreaves, who had Down’s Syndrome and had battled dementia, died on January 11th.

Her sisters Vicky and Lynn said Lorna touched the lives of those she met and loved people.

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Born in Kingston, Lorna moved to Burnley with her parents, who originated from the town, as a teenager. She regularly attended the former Meadow Bank Day Centre where she developed an interest in Burnley Football Club.

Vicky said: “When she was living with mum and dad and couldn’t get to the games herself she used to listen to them on the radio. When they won, she’d get up the next day and say she was having a celebration breakfast.”

Lorna later moved to a home in Manchester Road where staff took her to Clarets home matches and she became a season ticket holder. Vicky said on one occasion former goalkeeper Brian Jensen, who was nicknamed The Beast, gave Lorna one of his gloves and she met a number of other players.

“She knew all the football songs, and even when the dementia set in she would still remember them,” added Vicky, who lives in Wales.

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“She was such a lovely person. She was smiley, she loved people and they would warm to her. When you went into town with her people would stop to talk to her. People called her a star and she was. We’ll miss her terribly.”

Lynn said: “She tried very hard to do the best she could despite her health problems and if she met someone new she would say ‘do you think they like me?’

“She loved people, children and animals. She also loved music and was a member of the Michael Ball fan club. She also travelled widely with our mum.

“She was my ray of sunshine. She made me smile every time I saw her.”

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