A family is heartbroken after a TUI air hostess died just weeks after her dad died suddenly at work.
Angela Courtney, 47, from Huyton in Liverpool, died of cancer after receiving the diagnosis in January 2022.
Following a number of visits to the doctor with complaints of abdominal pain and rapid weight loss, the mum was diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer. She was told it was terminal after a course of chemotherapy treatment.
The air hostess, described as ‘kind’, was preparing to spend one last Christmas with her family when they received the devastating news, on December 14 last year, that her dad Tony, had died. Electrician Tony, 70, suffered a heart attack at work and sadly, passed away.
Angela was moved to Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton Village, in October, where she died on January 3rd, surrounded by her family. She leaves behind her partner John and her six-year-old son, Jonny. Tony leaves behind his wife Christine Courtney, 68, and three children Tony, 49, Bootsy, 46, and Beverley, 43.
Tony and Angela received a joint funeral service at St Columba’s Church, Huyton, on January 17th. The family believes he died of a broken heart after hearing the terrible news of his daughter’s terminal cancer diagnosis.
As reported in the Echo, daughter Beverly Jeffreys said: “We kind of believe he died of a broken heart because he just couldn’t see her die. We like to take that comfort that he died before her because he couldn’t take anymore.”
Beverly added: “Angela was honestly one of the most kind hearted people, she was just a beautiful soul. Nobody could say a bad word about her. She was kind, friendly, she was funny and she just lived for her family.”
The family asked people attending the funeral to wear purple ribbons in order to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer, where £900 was raised in donations for the cause.
Now, they are hoping to have a plaque made in remembrance of their beloved Angela and Tony, with Beverly saying: “The staff at the hospice were amazing and they made her life towards the end the best it could be – she wanted for nothing.
“It’s been really awful. I’m the youngest of four, I’ve got two brothers and Angela, we’ve got a big family and we all just need to be there for my mum.
“When dad died everyone’s focus went on Angela because I had to go and tell Angela in the hospice and that was horrific. She was heartbroken.
“She was crying saying, ‘all I wanted was a nice Christmas.’ It was really, really sad,” she said.
Paying tribute to her dad, Beverly added: “Tony touched a lot of lives through his work as an electrician and had many loyal customers who have written cards to his family since his sudden death. Beverley said: “He was a workaholic. He loved his job and he was so funny, so straight forward.
“He was one of those guys who would always do you a favour. He was a hardworking dad and grandad.”
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour. The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham. “We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”