Obituary: Norman Journeaux - Tributes paid to popular man

Norman Journeaux

Tributes for Norman Journeaux who lost his battle to cancer and sadly died on Saturday 12 March 2011, have been paid.

Norman, 51, suffered from cancer of the oesophagus.

Norman was well known in the Rochdale Sunday Football League, playing from his teens and reaching his mid forties before finally hanging his boots up.

He also ran the Red Lion pub in Whitworth for six years.

He went to Balderstone School, and was training to be an accountant before quitting to work as a delivery driver.

He was a life long Arsenal fan and just four weeks ago Norman went to Wembley to watch his team play.

Last August, despite undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, Norman took part in a 50 mile sponsored bike ride, raising hundreds of pounds for local charities:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/45444/man-who-is-defying-the-odds-gets-ready-for-charity-cycle

Ann Bailey, Norman’s wife of 20 years said he was a popular man who loved sport. He ran a pool league at the pub and watched any sport he could.

The pair divorced five years ago but remained close friends. “He requested that I was there at the end,” said Ann, “And I’m glad I could fulfil that promise.”

Speaking about the days when the couple ran the Red Lion, situated in Whitworth Square, Ann said: “We made lots of friends there. Some of them ended up life long friends; he was very popular, everybody in the pub seemed to love him.

“We had a long standing joke about the amount of time he spent in the bath. If he wasn’t around the regulars would say where is he? In the bath?”

Ann said Norman was very laid back.

“We would say if he was any more laid back he would be horizontal. He never let anything faze him.”

Norman’s mum, Pauline, described him as “stubborn.”

She said: “He was very quiet as a person and very loving as a son.”

Speaking about memories of Norman, Pauline, said: “I have many good memories, when he was a baby my mother used to wrap him up so tight in his little blanket we all used to call him Norman Papoose.”

Norman leaves behind a son, Steven.

Norman’s funeral will be held at the Rochdale Crematorium on Tuesday 22 March 2011 at 1.00pm followed by a celebration of his life at the Red Lion.