A STALWART of the Blackburn Asthma Support Group, Sheila Hodkinson, has died aged 64.

was a founder member of the group, established in 1990. She also did voluntary work for the Citizens' Advice Bureau in Blackburn and Darwen.

Her partner of 26 years, Arthur Eddleston, said Sheila suffered a stroke in December but seemed to be coping well.

But doctors discovered a tumour and she died in Queen's Park Hospital.

Sheila had four children, daughters Jane and Sandra and sons David and Gary, and seven grandchildren.

Mr Eddleston, of Snaefell Road, Blackburn, said: "She lived for her kids and her grandchildren."

Ann Wainwright, secretary of the Blackburn Asthma Support Group, said: "She was a chronic asthmatic but she never let it get her down and she always put everybody else first.

"She loved swimming and when we wanted to set up a swimming group she said she would run it and she has been secretary of that for the last five years.

"She has done a lot for asthmatics in Blackburn, even although she suffered badly herself."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.