George Thomas Bates

On 11th February 2025, peacefully at Moorhead Residential Home following a long illness, George, aged 80 years of Accrington. The dearly loved husband of Irene, loved dad of Darran and partner Mel, and Jason, and a cherished grandad of Stephen, Erica, Jamie, Kira and Jacy, great-grandad of Lyla, Millie and Ollie, also a dear relative and friend.

George began his working life as a wagon driver, working alongside his cousin John, before moving to Mullards, where he remained until retirement. He loved his job, thriving on the camaraderie of the shop floor, and was known for his unwavering work ethic – never taking a single day off, always giving of himself one hundred percent. His dedication and strong sense of fairness saw him rise to the roles of shop steward and later stores manager. A proud union man, George always stood up for the underdog, guided by his firm sense of right and wrong. But George was so much more than his work. He was a gentle man who truly loved people, and in return, people loved him. He was warm, kind, funny, and endlessly positive. His hobbies brought him so much pleasure – whether it was fishing, playing golf, or cheering on his revered Blackburn Rovers – George had been a lifelong fan. He also found great happiness on the allotment, sharing many happy hours with Darran and the other allotmentees, enjoying the simple pleasures of good company and the outdoors, tending the chickens, the fruit trees and the veg. First and foremost, George was a most loving family man, everything he did was for Irene and the boys and his growing family. He enjoyed reading cowboy and detective novels, and he had a natural curiosity that made him knowledgeable about so many things. His quick wit and humour could brighten any room, and above all, he wanted those around him to be happy.

Donations in lieu of flowers are being gratefully received on behalf of Parkinson’s UK. To make a donation, please click the blue donate button at the bottom of this page. A donation box will also be available at the service. Please feel free to leave a message for George’s online memorial book by completing the form below.

Rachel brindle
I used to look after George, he always had a smile on his face, it was a pleasure to care for him, so sad to hear of his passing.