MEMBERS of Vale Royal Pensioners' Association's Winsford branch were this week coming to terms with the sudden death of one of their colleagues.

Les Gaffney, aged 73, of Churchill Parkway in Winsford, passed away last Friday at his home after suffering a heart attack.

Les leaves behind his partner Joan Holloway, with whom he had lived for many years, although they had never married.

Harry Mooney, chairman of the association's Winsford branch, said: "He was a lovely person who was always cheerful and smiling. He lived for the day and was very well liked amongst the pensioners in the association."

Les was one of four Winsford pensioners who had fought off competition from all over Britain to win a quiz championship only a week ago.

The pensioners' association members had been on a weekend break, arranged by the association, which everyone had thoroughly enjoyed.

The four team members battled against 1,250 other competitors from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at Pontins in Blackpool, to become holiday champions.

Les Gaffney, Joan Holloway, Mary O'Brien and Peggy Molyneux were presented with a plaque by quiz organisers to mark their achievement.

The plaque will now be engraved with the names of the team members and kept by the association's secretary and used in future displays in Winsford Library.

THE next meeting of the association's Winsford branch is on Monday, October 12, at Wharton Conservative Club, on Wharton Road. For further information call Harry Mooney on 557656.

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