FRANK Baxendale spent a lifetime giving his time and energy to others.

Mr Baxendale, 69, from Willis Road, Blackburn, was known across East Lancashire for his charitable work.

So when the grandfather-of-eight died from lung cancer in April, just 10 days after doctors discovered he was suffering from the disease, his family decided it was only fitting that donations at his funeral went to the Raise the Roof appeal.

They have given £1,577 to the Lancashire Telegraph campaign, which aims to raise £125,000 to build a new roof over the inpatients unit at East Lancashire Hospice.

Miriam Baxendale, who first met her husband at St Aidan’s Church youth club at the age of 14, said he had simply been ‘too busy’ to let ill health get in the way of Masons work.

She said: “He was such a strong person, we didn’t know how ill he was. He continued to work as if everything was normal.

“I always had to share him with everybody because he really loved people.

“He never turned anybody away – if anybody wanted anything doing he would just get on and do it.”

“He just saw it as important to help people.”

A former Emmanuel Primary School pupil, Mr Baxendale was the last head boy at Blakey Moor Boys’ School and one of the first boys to win the Thwaites’ Scholarship to America.

He started work as a paint chemist at Walpamur Paint, now Crown Paints, before using newly-acquired computer skills to become assistant county treasurer at Lancashire County Council.

A St Francis Ward councillor, he was also a governor at schools including St Bede’s High, St Aidan’s Primary, Wensley Fold Primary and St Wilfrid’s Academy in Blackburn. As a Mason he rose to the position of Provincial Secretary for the East Lancashire Mark Degree, helping fund projects like cancer scanners.

Mrs Baxendale, a former midwife and specialist health visitor working with children with special needs, said: “The funeral donations were always going to go to cancer because we had been doing fundraising for Yorkshire Cancer Care.

“But my eldest daughter and my son said ‘dad is a Lancashire lad, born and bred, what would he have wanted?’

“The Raise the Roof appeal was all encompassing and the hospice helps so many people.

“With Frank it was never about him, it was always about other people.”

How to donate

  • By text - Send ROOF to 70700. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. East Lancashire Hospice receives at least £4.45. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800.

    Charity No 1075653.

  • Online - At eastlancshospice.org.uk/roof-appeal. Remember to add the word ‘roof’ in the comments section so it is clear the donation is for this appeal.
  • At a bank - Make a payment at any Yorkshire Bank, Account No 22741541, Sort Code 05-02-52. Locally there are branches in Accrington, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Clitheroe, Colne, Nelson and Todmorden.
  • By post - Send a cheque to Roof Appeal, East Lancashire Hospice, Park Lee Road, Blackburn, BB2 3NY.
  • By phone - Pay by debit or credit card by ringing 01254 733410.

If surplus funds are raised they will be used for the general purposes of the charity.

Click on the link below for more information on the Raise The Roof campaign.