Tributes have been paid to ‘a social gentleman of Accrington’ who was a firefighter for 30 years and had a short spell playing for Accrington Stanley. Gerard Finch, formerly of Stanley Court, Accrington, passed away peacefully from dementia at Belvedere Care Home on December 10, age 78.
The beloved father-of-two was based at Accrington fire station on Manchester Road and was renowned in the town as a ‘legend’. His son, Andrew said: “He was a social gentleman of Accrington and a regular face around the town.
“He was super out going and chatty and everyone recognised him. People have called him a legend and say they are privileged to have called him a friend.”
Gerard, who was known as Gerry, was born in Oldham and later moved to Brighton with his sister Stella and their parents where they ran a B&B, before settling in Accrington. He attended Sacred Heart Primary School and went on to secondary education at Holy Family.
Gerry began working life at Lang Bridges Engineering in Accrington until he was made redundant and then joined Lancashire Fire Brigade Services at the age of 21. He was first based in Preston and then he was moved to Accrington fire station on Manchester Road where he was a member of Green Watch (a group of firemen with an allocated shift pattern).
Gerry Finch (sat next to the funnel) with his Watch at Accrington fire station in the 1980s
Gerry braved many ferocious fires including the Whittaker’s fire near Dowry Street before 2000 and the Abbey Street Shopping Centre fire which happened around 1990. He also tackled a blaze that burst through a building opposite Accrington Market Hall.
In the last five years of his career, he was a driving instructor at Chorley Training Centre and taught firemen how to drive engines. Gerry and his late wife Pat ran Stanley Street Butty Shop in Accrington for more than 30 years, selling pies and peas, sandwiches and cakes.
They had regular customers including workmen in the area and teachers from Peel Park school who would come to the shop to buy sandwiches. Gerry met Pat through her brother Roy, who asked her to go on a double date with Gerry.
The couple got married in 1970 at St Anne’s Church, Accrington and had two children together Kevin and Andrew. They enjoyed holidays in Spain and Pat and Gerry would go to Cyprus around three times a year.
The treasured grandfather-of-one to Ebony enjoyed playing snooker, dominoes and having a go at quizzes. He was an avid supporter of Manchester United and Accrington Stanley who he played for in his early 20s.
He joined the team when the club were dissolved out of the football league and then restarted. During matches programmes with Gerry’s name on them would be given to spectators and he was very proud to have been part of the club.
He was a member of Sydney Street Working Men’s Club and several other clubs in Accrington. Gerry was a regular customer of The Broadway, Accrington and Wetherspoons in the town centre. A convoy of fire engines were due to appear for Gerry’s funeral on Monday, December 23 and pass through Accrington fire station while a guard of honour is carried out.
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