Middleton man leaves £350,000 to charity

John Edward ‘Ted’ Morris

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A man from Middleton, who died last year after a battle with cancer, has left £350,000 in his will to help the seven charities that were important to him.

Widower John Edward Morris, better known to family and friends as ‘Ted,’ split the money between The Christie, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, NSPCC, The Children’s Society, The Salvation Army and the British Heart Foundation.

Born in Collyhurst on the 11 May 1923, Mr Morris left school at 14 and started work as a newspaper messenger boy. During the war he joined the Merchant Navy, spending lots of time in India and Sri Lanka, and later returned to his newspaper roots to work as deputy northern publisher at the Manchester Guardian, eventually retiring after 29 years of service.

Son to parents John and Lily Edward, and brother to Leonard and Lily, the family man married childhood sweetheart Kathleen in 1952. Their daughter Irene sadly died aged just nine after suffering heart problems.

Mr Morris was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003 and underwent treatment at The Christie. He died on the 30 June 2009 aged 86 in Springhill Hospice, Rochdale.

John’s sister Lily Hunter, 79, who also lives Middleton said: “My brother was a very caring and inspiring man who touched many people’s lives. He was hardworking, generous and had a heart of gold. I’m proud that this generosity will help so many people in the future.

“All the charities he left money to impacted on his life in various ways - The Christie where he received fantastic treatment and for its commitment to world leading research, the British Heart Foundation because of his daughter Irene who suffered heart problems, Macmillan Cancer Support for the care he received in his last few months, The Salvation Army because of its good work during the war, Cancer Research UK to help find more cures for all cancers and the NSPCC and The Children’s Society because he admired the work they do to help children.

“He even gave Springhill Hospice over £8,000 before he died. I’m incredibly proud to call him my brother.”

Legacy officer at the Christie charity, John Bremend, said; “The money John left in his will is extremely generous and I speak on behalf of the six other charities when I say how grateful we all are.

“It’s clear that John cared immensely about others and his community – the legacy gifts reflect his life and his loyalties.”