TRIBUTES have been paid to a “unique and generous” woman who volunteered for Bolton Hospice for more than two decades.

Vera Ashcroft, who was known affectionately as Aunty Vee by all who knew her, died at her Chorley Old Road home on Saturday, aged 81.

Her tireless efforts at the hospice saw her volunteer at both the hospice shop in Chorley Old Road and as a receptionist at weekends at the main Chorley New Road site for 23 years.

She was recognised for her generosity and hard work when she received the Millennium Woman of the Year award from bosses at the hospice.

Her niece, Kathryn Higson, aged 55, said: “What a woman she was. I think they broke the mould when they made Aunty Vee. She was totally unique.

“She didn’t have any children but that didn’t matter because she adopted everyone she came across — she liked people and they liked her back.

“It is hard to imagine just how many people she must have helped in her time as a volunteer at the hospice — people who were going through a difficult time and she just lifted their spirits.”

Her nephew, Bolton councillor Phil Ashcroft said his aunt was “a great character”.

He added: “She was very lively and very friendly with a lovely sense of humour.

“We all have great memories of growing up with her, she was a person who was appreciated and loved by lots of people.”

Cllr Ashcroft’s mother, Brenda, aged 75, said her sister-in-law had a “very kind heart”.

She added: “All those years she did at the hospice was out of the goodness of her heart, she always wanted to do a good turn.”

Another proud moment for Vera came in 2007 when Princess Alexandra came to visit Bolton Hospice and its new Garden of Tranquillity.

It was decided that she was the best person to show the Princess around the site and she did so with pride.

After growing up in Horwich, she eventually ended up living in a cottage in Chorley Old Road, near to the Doffcocker area.

She had previously worked in a number of different jobs in Bolton, including working at a pram shop in Newport Street.

Her funeral is set to take place on Friday, January 30, at Overdale Crematorium at 1pm.