Flag falls on life of war veteran Sydney
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date published: 22 November 2011
MUCH RESPECTED... Sydney Green
THE former licensee of the Church Hotel, Hollinwood, and a Normandy veteran, Sydney Green, has died. He was 87.
Mr Green made history with his wife when the couple became the first husband and wife representatives for Oldham licensees.
They served together on the Oldham Licensed Victuallers Association in the late 1970s. He was chairman, and his wife, Frances, who died last year, was chairman of the ladies auxiliary.
They were the first to hold the offices together as a married couple.
Mr Green was landlord of the Church Hotel, Chapel Road, for 17 years, and was previously the landlord of the Minders Arms, Huddersfield Road, and the now demolished Canteen Inn in St Mary’s.
His army career saw him seriously wounded in the Battle of Goodwood in 1944, and he spent eight months in hospital.
He also landed on Sword beach a few hours after the initial D-Day landings.
Mr Green’s distinguished army career led him to share his war experiences with schoolchildren at North Chadderton School around ten years ago.
He was a standard bearer for the Normandy veterans and carried the flag in processions all over England, paraded before the Queen, and met the Queen Mother.
He died on Thursday in Avalon Park nursing home in Salem, and leaves three daughters, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
One of his daughters, Marilyn Atherton, said: “He was not only a Normandy veteran and a war hero, but a tower of strength and a hero to all his family and friends.
“He and my mother were married for 62 years, and were able to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.”
Mr Green’s was a well-known face around the borough, and appeared in the Oldham Chronicle many times. He was once famously reported as the only licensee in the town to be charged with “before time drinking.”
His daughter fondly recalled: “It was one Sunday morning when he was at The Church. A group of customers were going on a trip but the coach didn’t turn up so he let them all in for a drink. That was just dad.”
