Tributes to Orphanage Cup stalwart Trevor Booth

The funeral and celebration of life will be at St Leonard’s Church, Langho at noon followed by a cremation at Pleasington Crematorium.

Trevor played a instrumental role in the success of the football competition for works teams across Blackburn and was secretary for more than 40 years.

The Orphanage Cup had a special place in Trevor’s heart as he was an orphan and lived in what was then Blackburn Orphanage in the 1940s.

He was left at the orphanage as an 18-month-old in 1934 but after leaving at 16, Trevor set up his own construction business and went on to marry and have three children.

But he remained close to Tom and Lily Street, the superintendent and matron of the orphanage.

Now called Child Action North West, Trevor occasionally returned to the place he called home and as part of Foster Care Fortnight, Trevor and another former resident Peter Woodmansey, went back to help highlight the work of foster carers.

At the time he said: “Childcare has gone through a lot of changes and there’s no place for the sort of institution Peter and I were brought up in, its outdated now. CANW is doing the work they began when they started out as the orphanage more than 100 years ago, but in a different, modern way.

“It’s so important for children who need a loving home to be fostered. The orphanage transformed my life and now I want to encourage people who are thinking about becoming foster carers to work with CANW to transform the lives of children today.”

Trevor was succeeded by Peter Bush and then current secretary Tommy Tatham who praised the hard work and dedication he gave to the Orphanage Cup - even when he stepped down from official business.

“Trevor will be sadly missed but the work he did for the Orphanage Cup will never be forgotten,” said Tommy. “I had the pleasure to work with him and then become a very good friend.”

Donations in Trevor's memory will be gratefully received on behalf of Child Action North West, care of Champ Funeral Services.