Donald Nussey sadly passed away on Friday 18th September in St David’s Hospice Llandudno, after a mercifully short battle with cancer. He had suffered from heart problems for several years but was diagnosed with cancer following his return from a family holiday in Lanzarote in June.

Donald was born on 27 Jan 1931 at Gravel Hill, Littlemoss, Ashton-under-Lyne and was extremely proud of his Lancashire roots throughout his life. He attended school at Stamford Boys School and on leaving worked with his father and mother in the family market trading business.

In common with most other young men of his generation, he was conscripted into National Service in 1949 and, following his induction and medical inspection at the depot, was posted to the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, then in garrison at Warminster, Wiltshire. He was issued the number 22143226 and was a member of Support Company where he, at one time, worked with the experimental Bren (Universal) carrier flamethrower unit.

When the Battalion moved to the Suez Canal Zone in 1950 Donald had too little time left to serve to go with them, much to his chagrin. He was demobilised in 1951 but volunteered to serve on in the Territorial Army’s Manchester Regiment for a further four years. During this time he met and married his first wife Mary, and his two daughters, Angela and Janet were born in 1956 and 1957. Donald ran a grocer’s shop in Edge Lane Droylsden; opposite Robertson’s jam factory and in 1961 the whole family ‘emigrated’ to Llandudno in North Wales. The marriage did not last, however, and Donald and Mary were later divorced.

Donald initially worked as a mobile Co-op shopkeeper and later at Country Maid foods, as both a delivery driver and supervisor. Following this he took up care work and, having begun as a handyman, became the Officer in Charge of a care home for the elderly at Plas y Dre in Llandudno. His obvious compassion and care for others combined with a terrific sense of humour endeared him to all who met him and particularly to all those in his charge. It was at Plas y Dre that Donald met Joan and following a bout of ill health the couple moved to work at Hornby Castle near Lancaster. Donald and Joan married in Chester in 1998 and from then on he detested being parted from her for any reason. He always considered himself the most fortunate of men for them to have been able to live and work together.

Donald was laid to rest at Llanrhos Lawn Cemetery near Llandudno following a funeral service held on Wednesday 23rd September at St John’s Methodist Church where his sister, Margaret, is a member. The funeral was attended by, in addition to his family and friends, two colour party members of the Lancashire Fusiliers Association who had travelled from Bury and Cumbria. Donald would have been particularly pleased at their attendance. He bore his final illness with remarkable fortitude and courage and his sense of fun and humour endeared him to all who visited or cared for him in his final days.