Oldham’s ‘Life Story’ pioneer dies aged 87

Reporter: Janice Barker
Date online: 03 September 2010

Ken Holt, the Shaw man who began Oldham’s Life Story project, has died aged 87 after a short illness.

Mr Holt, who died in Dr Kershaw’s Hospice on Sunday, helped to found the local Life Story Group in 2005, when his wife, Alice, was taken into a nursing home with Alzheimer’s disease.

Then 82, Mr Holt, a former chairman of Oldham Carers’ Forum, wrote a brief account of her life to help the staff who were going to care for her.

After discussing the life-story idea with professionals it became a national project, and won a Pride in Oldham award in 2005 and two Greater Manchester NHS awards.

Mr Holt fought in the Second World War with the Eighth Army, the ‘Desert Rats’, in north Africa, then took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy.

He later became the organiser for the annual Remembrance Sunday service in Shaw.

He leaves a son Les, daughter-in-law Linda, grandchildren Sally and Gemma, and great grandson Oliver.

The funeral is on Tuesday at the Shaw Salvation Army Citadel at 1.15pm, followed by committal at Oldham Crematorium at 2.30 pm.

Ex-servicemen will lower their standards, the Last Post will be played and a piper will accompany the coffin.