Oldham youth and community stalwart Eric passes away following cancer battle

A former youth and community worker who was a well-known face in Oldham has died aged 88 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Eric Youd was most well-known for managing Oldham Community Centre on Union Street in Oldham town centre, where he ended his working life in 1993.

Eric trained as a youth worker in the 1960s and following jobs in Stalybridge, Ancoats in Manchester and Keswick in the Lake District, he settled in Oldham with his new wife, Joan, in 1966 after being appointed Youth Worker at Cannon Street Youth Centre.

He went on to work at Fitton Hill Youth and Community Centre, before being appointed ‘Warden’ of Oldham Community Centre, then on Clegg Street, in 1972 prior to it moving to its new home on Union Street the following year.

Eric founded groups as diverse as the Tortoise Ramblers and Oldham Community Choir, which is still going strong today, and the centre hosted everyone from potters to photographers and singers to Scottish dancers.

In the 1980s he ran a large, multi-cultural community education centre at Greenhill Community Centre in Glodwick, which included coaching a football team that to his surprise and delight went on to win the league several times, before he returned to Oldham Community Centre where he worked until he was made redundant in 1993.

Outside of his work, Eric was a magistrate in Oldham from 1977 to 2005, chair of governors at Royton and Crompton School and an active member of the Labour Party and Co-operative Party.

He was also president of Oldham Choral Society.

Eric received his diagnosis in 2002, had surgery to remove the prostate and remained on treatment for the rest of his life.

From the beginning, he wanted to highlight how important it was for men to get checked, and featured in the Oldham Evening Chronicle to spread the word.

His wife, Joan, said: “Twenty years ago when Eric was diagnosed, prostate cancer wasn’t talked about as much as it is now and he was determined, alongside the urology team at Oldham Hospital, to raise awareness.

“One in eight men will get prostate cancer.

"Eric went on to live a full life, see his grandson born and grow up, but many men he knew died much sooner than him.

"As his family, we would like to urge any man who fears they may have prostate issues, to get checked.

"The earlier you catch it, the more likely it is to be cured.”

Eric leaves his wife, Joan, and daughters Ruth and Julia.

Enquiries to Royton Co-op Funeralcare on 0161 624 2003.

For further information about Prostate Cancer, visit: prostatecanceruk.org

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.