Tributes to popular Croston villager

7:23pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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Sympathy cards have filled the house of a popular Croston man who died outside his local pub.

Tributes have been paid to Douglas Hampson, after he collapsed and died suddenly outside the Grapes pub, in the village on Sunday evening.

The 74-year-old, was on his way to the pub on Town Road, for a drink with his friends, when he fell over and died from a suspected heart attack at 8.30pm.

His widow Jean, 70, who lives near the pub said the avid Bolton Wanderers fan was a fun loving lad who liked a pint.

Jean who lives in the family home with their 31-year-old son, Jason, added: "He was always jovial and friendly with everyone.

"He was always willing to help others and would make everybody laugh."

The former Lancashire County Council groundsman, was born in Bolton and after losing both his parents during the Second World War, moved to boys' homes in Fleetwood and Worsley, before moving to Croston as a farm labourer when he was 15.

Mrs Hampson added: "I met him when I was at school because he used to drive by on the milk float and we all use to look at him because he was very handsome."

The couple were married in 1961 and moved into their Town Road home.

Mr Hampson, who helped to run the over 60s club in Castle Walks, Croston, had a double heart bypass in 2003 but had been of good health recently.

"It was all a bit sudden and he will be missed by all of us," added Mrs Hampson.

Stuart Stevenson, owner of the Grapes pub, said: "He was the best Whitbread Mild drinker in the village and he was always friendly. Everybody loved him."

A post-mortem examination will be held and the funeral is expected to take place at the St Michael and All Angels Church in Croston next week.

He is also survived by his brother Stanley, who lives in Derby.