Death of pitman poet Jimmy

He died on Tuesday of a heart attack at his home in Derwent Street, Tyldesley.

Jimmy Jones saw his beloved home town through the eyes of a school lad, errand boy, wartime serviceman and colliery worker. He looked and listened carefully and forgot little.

A lifelong interest in his everyday surroundings matured with his involvement with the newly-formed Tyldesley and District Historical Society.

He'd recently been made president of the Society which he served loyally for quarter of a century.

But his talent with dialect poetry stemmed from his tongue-in-cheek scribblings on coal wagons in Astley Green pit sidings.

Painstaking research into faded photographs, documents and old Journal files helped him gather a unique knowledge of local history which allied to his personal experiences made him an intriguing raconteur.

Plain, straight-talking Jimmy Jones never called himself an historian, but he brought an interest and understanding of local history into the everyday lives of local people - young and old.

Like the history he loved so dearly, he won't be forgotten.

He leaves a wife, Doris, daughters Doreen and Pat and a son, Trevor.

Funeral arrangements are by Abbey Funerals, 01942-891331.

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