Mourners turned out for the funeral of a popular postman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Mourners in tangerine turned out for the funeral of a popular postman and avid Blackpool FC fan.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/ ... -1-5880184" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

People gathered in St Annes yesterday for the Seasiders-themed funeral to pay their respects to John Chandler, 56, who died after suffering from a heart infection.

Today his partner of 16 years, Suzanne Giblin, described how he looked into her eyes one last time before dying in her arms.

Ms Giblin, 44, said: “Everybody loved him and he was a very popular man.

“He had been in hospital briefly in April, but they sent him home after nine days.


“Then he gradually got worse and we took him back in. I was holding him at the end. He wasn’t able to speak but he did open his eyes and he was looking at me.”

Mr Chandler had worked as a postman for 33 years before his death on July 14 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

A huge Blackpool FC fan, his funeral was Tangerine-themed and featured a procession along the route of his former post round in St Annes, which he had worked for 33 years.

Ms Giblin, of Whitby Road in the town, added: “He made a lot of friends with all the shopkeepers because he would try and spend some time and have a bit of a chat with them instead of just throwing their mail and running out.

“Fun is the best way to describe him, he was always the life and soul of the party.”

Mr Chandler was born in Bispham but moved to St Annes as a child.

He attended Mayfield Primary School in the town, before moving on to Lytham St Annes High School.

He then worked as bar manager at the Glendower Hotel in the town and briefly as a labourer in Germany before he became a postman.

Besides Ms Giblin he is survived by mother Dorothy, sister Anne, 53, and brother David, 45.

His father George died earlier this year aged 85.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Mourners at centre of murder probe after death of funeral goer

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -goer.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mourners of a seaside town's long-serving postman found themselves at the centre of a murder investigation after one of the funeral attendees was killed in the street after the wake.

In a scene akin to a Midsomer Murder mystery, mourners attending the funeral of postman John Chandler in Lyntham St Annes, Lancashire, witnessed one of their procession being struck on the head as a brawl broke out on the street.

A relative of the deceased postman, who had served the town for 33 years, rushed to the man's aid but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

It is believed that the 47 year-old, later identified as Barry Kirkham, crumpled to the ground after being headbutted during an argument outside a takeaway restaurant around 11pm Monday night.

The attack happened around seven hours after the postman's funeral, on the same path he walked for more than three decades while on his round.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man from St Annes on suspicion of murder and a second 45-year-old man is being held on suspicion of assault. Police are seeking witnesses from the wake.

It is believed the second man had been a mourner at Mr Chandler’s funeral.

One lifelong friend of the postman said: “It is tragic that somebody who attended John's funeral should die on the pavement he walked on each day and where his coffin travelled on his final journey.”

Speaking at the scene, Detective Superintendent Andy Murphy said: "We believe this to be an isolated incident and the people of the town have nothing to fear."

"We are seeking witnesses. We believe the dead man had a row outside a takeaway called Zekos."

Mr Chandler, a lifelong Blackpool FC fan who lived with his family in St Annes, died after a short illness caused by a heart infection.
His cortege was led by a Royal Mail van and he was given a guard of honour by the seaside town’s postman and women.

[maisymoo04]

F@@@ me how bad would that be a relative. I no johns death is bad enough but cum on someone who was a relative and there