THE wife of former Barnsley Chronicle editor Don Booker has died four months after the death of her husband.
Freda Booker, who died aged 89 on Monday in Thornhill House Care Home, Darfield, was as much a pillar of the community as her husband - with whom she did ‘everything’.
Freda was an active member of St Paul’s Church in Monk Bretton, the village where the couple lived together for more than 60 years, and she was also a member of the mothers’ union.
Don retired from the role of editor in 1994 after more than 70 years with the paper, and he had continued to write some of the district news for Monk Bretton until just three weeks before his death.
But it was also a large part of Freda’s, and both had served as district news correspondent for Monk Bretton over the years.
“She was much quieter than my dad,” said daughter Julie Alliott, 60, of Broad Gates, Silkstone.
“She was a really good, caring mum.
“They were the best parents you could’ve asked for. They were just a lot of fun, really sociable and had a lot of love for other people.
“Her life was my dad’s really. My dad used to be really into motorbikes and she’d ride pillion without a helmet, in those days.
“They did everything together and loved the local community.”
Born in Haigh to Fred and Marian Clarkson, Freda went to work at Horsfield’s florist in Barnsley town centre in her early 20s, commuting from the family home.
It was at this time she met Don, after watching his dance band perform at a local venue.
They married in 1956, and lived in Monk Bretton all their lives, most recently in Hall Place.
Freda spent her final days in Thornhill House, where she had moved two months prior to Don’s death in September last year.
“The staff have been so lovely,” Julie said. “I would really like to say thank you to them. When you get to that age people just want to laugh, and they definitely did that.”
Freda had a sister, Joan, who died in her early 40s, and she leaves a daughter, Julie, son-in-law Simon and granddaughter, Lucy.
The funeral will take place at 11am on Monday February 18 at St Paul’s Church, Monk Bretton.
