HARRY Stephenson, a partner in an industrial cleaning business after working many years as a weaver, has died aged 90.

Mr Stephenson, known to his friends as "Stivvy,'' died peacefully at his daughter Hilary's home in Scotland Road, Nelson.

Hilary said: "He was the only local person to be fined during the war for being late for work. He was then a weaver at Jimmy Nelson's and was fined £5, a lot of money in those days.''

In his young days, Mr Stephenson was a member of the Rainbow Dance Band. He played both the violin and banjo and would often be invited to go free on coach outings to entertain the trippers. When he was 75, he was rescued from a fire at his Cooper Street home. Mr Stephenson was a keen snooker fan and a popular member of the Nelson Star Club and Nelson Conservative Club.

He leaves a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. The funeral is on Monday with an 11am service at the Co-operative Chapel of Repose followed by interment at Walton Lane cemetery, Nelson.

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