DESPERATELY-ill pensioner Hilda Olden had just one wish in life - to meet her hero celebrity Michael Barrymore.

And Hilda achieved her ambition, just weeks before she died. The 61-year-old passed away last Wednesday.

Hilda, who lived with her daughter Linda in Norfolk Close, Clayton-le-Moors, had suffered several strokes, emphysema and even survived a heart attack on her journey home from meeting Barrymore, in Croyden.

The meeting with the funnyman - reported on the Citizen front page of December 24 - came about after she and Linda appeared on his television game show Strike It Rich.

Hilda told him that if she hit the jackpot, she would buy a hi-tech electric wheelchair to help her become more independent.

The duo failed to win the top prize, but a Red Cross representative was watching the show and arranged for Barrymore to present Hilda with her dream gift.

At the time Hilda said: "My ailments would fill a doctor's handbook, but I'm just glad to be alive and enjoy every moment I can."

Her words are now comforting her seven children and 11 grandchildren, who laid her to rest this week - and returned the wheelchair to the Red Cross so they could give it to another needy person.

Linda said: "Mum always kept her spirits up and although she was in a lot of discomfort and pain, lived her life to the full.

"It was great that she could meet Michael Barrymore and the photographs taken at the time are great comfort to us now."

Anne Creasley, Red Cross public relations officer, said: "We are deeply saddened by Hilda's death and a representative of our Lancashire branch attended her funeral.

"Her family have asked for the wheelchair to be donated to someone else and we will uphold their request."

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