Health stalwart Lorna Jones MBE dies at 90

Lorna Jones

A WOMAN awarded an MBE for devoting herself to the health of Oldhamers for more than 40 years has died at the age of 90.

Lorna Spencer, née Jones, received the MBE in 1979. She started in 1938 as a junior clerk in Oldham Public Health Department and when the National Health Service was born in 1948, joined Oldham Hospital Management Committee as the clerk — where she was well known as “Miss Jones”.

She worked as a secretary to health bosses in the area before retiring in 1982.

In 1985, the 62-year-old Miss Jones became Mrs Lorna Spencer when she married Kenneth Spencer, who died in 2003.

The great great aunt had three stepdaughters and two nieces.

Her niece Susan Ogden said: “All her life Lorna was extremely hardworking. She lived life to the full.”

Mrs Spencer died peacefully at Edge Hill Residential Home, Royton, last Friday.

Her funeral is on Wednesday at St Anne’s Church, Lydgate (10.45am), prior to committal at Oldham Crematorium at noon.