Dora’s farewell to beloved Bill

DEVOTED . . . Bill and Dora

OLDHAM screen and stage star Dora Bryan is mourning the death of her husband Bill Lawton, who has died aged 88.

The couple met in 1940 when she was a favourite actress at Oldham Repertory Theatre, now the Coliseum.

When they married 14 years later, they were the golden couple of their era — she was a blonde, famous film and stage actress, and he was professional cricketer who played for Lancashire.

They married on February 7, 1954, her 31st birthday, at Bill’s local church, St Thomas’s, Werneth, and despite 2ft of snow on the ground, the streets were lined with well-wishers.

Bill Lawton joined Werneth Cricket Club as a boy and made the first team before becoming a professional in the Bradford League, and then moving to Ashton.

In 1948 he moved to St Anne’s-on-Sea, followed by Cumberland, Whitehaven and Walsall.

During 1948 while at St Anne’s he played mid-week matches for Lancashire, including a match against Australia.

But he also combined medium pace bowling with playing soccer. He played left half at Oldham Athletic in 1947, and Colwyn Bay FC in 1952.

When the couple moved down south, he continued to play cricket and coached at London cricket schools.

His last full season in the Central Lancashire League was in 1960 with Ashton, but he returned briefly three years later for Castleton Moor when Dora appeared at Manchester Opera House.

The couple, who had three children, and two grandchildren, ran a seafront hotel in Brighton, called Clarges, later turned into flats.

In his 80s, Bill developed Alzheimer’s and became increasingly reliant on his devoted wife.

Eventually they had to give up their flat and moved to a nursing home.

His funeral was at St George’s Church, Kemptown in Hove, followed by a private cremation.

Dora, now 86 and frail herself, was pushed down the church aisle in a wheelchair by her son, Daniel for the service.

A recording of her singing “Bill” from the musical “Showboat” was played.