MAUREEN'S FUNERAL 30th MARCH 2012

This picture by Cliff Astles shows the Thomas Clayton  narrowboat Tay as it takes Maureen Shaw down the Trent & Mersey Canal for the last time on Friday 30th March 2012. The boat has just left the third and lowest lock in the Brooks Lane Flight.
The route, from St Ann's Road bridge on the SUC Middlewich Branch, through Wardle Lock and then down the T&M to Middlewich Town Wharf was thronged with people, all wanting to pay tribute to the lady known to one and all as 'Auntie Maureen'.

At the Town Wharf the coffin was transferred from the boat to a hearse for the final part of the journey to St Michael & All Angels Church, where the service took place at 11am.

This really was a very special occasion, not only for Middlewich but also for the whole canal community, and we are unlikely ever to see anything like it again

Many thanks to Cliff for permission to use these photographs.

You can see more by visiting Cliff's Facebook page where he has posted them 'for Middlewich people to view with fondness and good memories of a well-known Middlewich lady.'

MAUREEN'S FUNERAL (CLIFF ASTLES' FACEBOOK ALBUM)