Graham Coward (13 Jan 1956 - 2 Dec 2018)

In loving memory of Graham Coward who sadly passed away on 2nd December 2018.

Graham started life living in Wellington street in the centre of Bolton where he discovered his love of horticulture with his first ever garden, which he loved to play in as a child. His education started at Pikes Lane primary school in Deane which he attended up to the age of around 11, after which he attended Lever Edge High school. During high school he moved to Netherfield Road, Great Lever with his brother Brian and parents Gladys and Norman.

After leaving school Graham worked for Bolton Council, starting in the parks department and working his way up. He stayed with Bolton council for around 10 years meeting many good friends during this time. He became friends with 'Jeff' during this time, with whom he completed many additional jobs outside of work known as 'foreigners'. One of these jobs included a foreigner for a friend of Jeff's called Bernard in Southport. It was at this job that Graham (18) came across a young lady called Ursula (20), who was Bernard's cousin, who was visiting Southport as part of a family holiday. Graham and Ursula were married in 1976 and over the next 14 years they were to have three sons; Mark (now 40), Andrew (now 38) and Daniel (now 35) and one Daughter; Amy (now 29). Graham and his family have lived in Horwich ever since he got married, living in Arkwright Street and then Chorley New Road.

Graham then left Bolton Council working as a self-employed garden labourer for a number of years completing foreigners for various companies including the then Victoria Mill in Horwich and private jobs for local families such as the Spencer family.

Graham then worked in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire for three to four years, again in the field of Horticulture. He moved on after this to work in London for a short period of time in the same field. Distance from his then young family became an important issue and he shortened his commute significantly by re-locating to Telford in Shropshire, to work as a manager for a horticultural company in that area for around three or four years. Whilst in Telford Graham lived in a caravan on a local families drive during the week whilst he visited his family back in Horwich during the weekend. This reflected the importance Graham placed on maintaining a family life whilst he lived and worked away.

Graham then moved back to Horwich and worked for a local company called Armstrong’s recycling for several years. During the later years of his employment he suffered a back injury through a work placed accident within this role. Shortly after this he left there employment through ill health and gained volunteer based employment with Asda at their Horwich store as a temporary Greeter. He was successful in his volunteer placement and was employed with Asda as a full time Greeter around a year later. He worked for Asda for around 10 years and was forced to leave their employment in around 2010 due to severe ill health related to his earlier accident at Armstrong’s many years before. It is important to understand that Graham loved working for Asda and became somewhat of a cult hero with both customers and staff members alike. Both of which remember him fondly!

Graham was diagnosed with throat cancer on September 2017, received treatment, and was declared free from cancer several months later. In September 2018 it was confirmed that Graham’s cancer had returned as liver cancer and he sadly lost his battle with this disease on Sunday 2nd December 2018.

Graham’s family would love to hear your own personal experiences and stories of your own time spent with Graham across his lifetime. They would also love to see any photos you may have of Graham, and yourselves with Graham from across the years, no matter the scenario! We all know Graham loved a good night out. Don’t be afraid to share these photo’s as well.

This websites allows users to upload ‘comments’ (stories/facts/things the family may not know) by clicking on the correct tab. It also allows users to upload photos to the site (one at time); please caption these with time and dates where possible.

Lastly, thank you for being part of Graham’s life and for attending the last celebration of it on the 11th December.

Ursula.