Wilfred Bailey “Wilf”

“Loves Last Gift: Rememberance”

Wilf passed away peacefully at Belong Care Home in the care of his devoted family knowing he was loved on Sunday 23rd January 2022 aged 86 years.

The beloved husband of Kath, devoted dad of Jayne & Jill and much loved grandad of Rachel, Hannah & Joe.

He will be remembered with affection by all his family & friends.

His funeral took place on Thursday 10th February at Crewe Crematorium Chapel 1.45pm.

Kind donations in memory of Wilf are going to Dementia UK.

For further information and to offer your condolences, please telephone our Funeral Home on 01270 584447

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Kath, Jayne, Jill & Families would like to thank everyone who attended the Celebration of Wilf’s Life – Family, friends, neighbours, members of St Andrews Church, former Fodens workmates, the North Staffs Accordian Band & the Breakaway Dance Group. We were really touched and Wilf would have been delighted to see so many people. We would like to thank you for all your support, the many cards and lovely messages. Donations totalling £400 were gratefully received for Dementia UK. Special thanks to the Caring Team of the Britannia Household & the Nursing Team at Belong, to Joe, Wendy & the team at O’Connells Funeral Services & to Joy Bratherton (Celebrant).

Wilf was born on Saturday 2nd February 1935 at Todd Hall Farm, Barthomley.
Wilf was the youngest of four children. He enjoyed a happy childhood in the pre and
post war years – although the family had little.
The family moved to Slaughter Hill, Haslington when Wilf was 4 years old. Wilf
attended school in Barthomley, Smiths Green, Kidsgrove and Haslington. He was a
good scholar and played in the football teams, however, Wilf’s biggest interest was
music – this talent was to play a key role throughout his life.
Wilf learned to play the piano and piano accordian, travelling to Manchester to take
his exams and achieving Grade 7 – a top grade player. In his mid teens Wilf began
to play a part in Cath Jones’ Dance Band and also formed a duo with his next door
neighbour, playing at dances, parties and weddings in the local area.
When Wilf left school at 15 in 1950 jobs were hard to come by but he found a role at
Day & Sons, Animal Medicines, Hope Street, Crewe where he worked until he was
18 when he began his National Service.
Wilf requested a posting to the Royal Inniskilling Fusillers for his National Service –
meaning he had to sign up for 3 years instead of the obligatory 2 but he was happy
to do this as he could join their band section and pursue his love of music – and so
began his interest in marching bands and band music. Wilf was based on Salisbury
Plain, Belfast and Dover Castle.
When he completed his National Service Wilf returned to Slaughter Hill and started a
job at at Foden Trucks where he trained as a Toolmaker/Cutter/Grinder, in the
Toolroom, eventually becoming the Chargehand supervising a small team. Wilf
worked at Fodens for 44 years until he retired Aged 65 in 2000.
Wilf was introduced to his future wife Kath by a mutual friend.
Wilf working at Fodens and Kath hairdressing in Sandbach – they spent their
weekends at dances in the local area. Dancing and music became their recreation
and social scene – this was to continue throughout their married lives – they went
dancing every week well into their late seventies.
They were married on 26th September 1959 at Sandbach Heath Church. Kath and
Wilf were married for over 62 years and celebrated at their 25th , 40th , 50th and 60th
anniversaries with parties with family and friends.
When they were first married they lived in a flat on the corner of South Street that
overlooked Nantwich Road. The flat was above a small hairdressing business
which, one year prior to getting married, Wilf had bought for Kath. After 4 years at
the flat, in 1963, they moved to Manor Way. The home they made for almost the
next 60 years.
They were married for 8 years before Jayne and then Jill came along. For the time of
the 1960s and 70s Wilf was a modern-day husband and dad, sharing the household
tasks and child care with Kath working late evenings and Saturdays at the shop,
often looking after Jayne and Jill, doing the shopping and cooking.

He was also a massive support to Kath when she lost her mum suddenly in 1970
and she and Wilf looked after her dad, Joe, for over 35 years.
Wilf was a master of finding ways to entertain his children and grandchildren. He
had endless patience and spent hours with his grandchildren. They thought the
world of him.
Wilf replaced his piano with an organ in the early 1980s as he saw an opportunity to
play music for dancing at venues in Cheshire and Staffordshire. He would play 2 or
even 3 times a week for Old Time Modern Sequence dancing and became well
known for this in the area.
Wilf played his keyboard and piano accordians every day, especially after he retired.
He was a member of the North Staff Piano Accordian Orchestra. He also wrote
accordian pieces and entered competitions, often doing very well.
Aside of playing his Music – Wilf was never happier when someone came to him with
a practical problem to solve, be that at Fodens or home. He loved nothing better
than to have to make a tool or to find a way around a sticky DIY problem – his
solutions would sometimes be very clever, always practical and never costly often
using the items from his extensive quarter masters stores in his garage.
Wilf had a dry sense of humour. He was a calm, patient and modest man. There
wasn’t anything not to like about him and in turn you would never hear him speak ill
of anyone.
Wilf Bailey – a gentleman, a wonderful husband, dad and grandad.

May he rest in peace.