Tributes to former High Sheriff

8:51am Thursday 27th March 2008

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Hundreds of people, including the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, attended the funeral of prominent Hoghton man - and former High Sheriff of Lancashire - Ralph Goodall yesterday.

Yorkshire-born Mr Goodall, known as Bill, passed away at the age of 76 on March 16. He died of cancer.

His son Andrew paid tribute to his father, whose job took him all over the world.

"He was definitely a family orientated man. He loved his family," he said.

Mr Goodall was chairman of the Hoghton Conservative Association for a number of years and was also a retired chairman of adhesive films and tapes firm, Scapa Group Limited, and the Warrington-based Volex Group Limited.

Andrew added: "He travelled the world in his job - Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, everywhere."

Mr Goodall, who hailed from Dewsbury, met his wife Audrey, from Derby, in Kent.

They arrived in the Lancashire area in 1968, living in Hoghton all that time, when Mr Goodall came to work here.

Following his illness, Mr Goodall spent time in both Preston Royal Hospital and Blackburn Royal Infirmary, and in St Catherine's Hospice, Lostock Hall.

Andrew explained: "He was diagnosed with bowel cancer a couple of years ago. That was pretty much cured. A second cancer was diagnosed last December."

Lord Shuttleworth, under whom Mr Goodall served as a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire before retiring last year, was at the funeral, which was held at the Holy Trinity Church in Hoghton, along with hundreds of family members, friends and business associates.

His friend, Chorley councillor David Dickinson, said: "There were hundreds of people at the funeral. He was a very popular man. He looked after us Conservatives during his time as chairman of the group.

"He never got involved in local politics at council level but I guess he probably didn't have time with all his business interests."

Mr Goodall leaves wife Audrey and three children.

A memorial service will be held at Blackburn Cathedral on Friday, April 25. His family have requested that donations, in lieu of flowers, be made to St Catherine's Hospice, at Lostock Hall, via Scales Funeral Service, 134 Darwen Street, Blackburn, Lancashire or via telephone on 01254 265911.