A funeral service was held at St Andrew’s Church, Middleton on Tuesday, 30th April for Mr Jack Bentley of Station Road, Middleton who died at the Northfield Manor Nursing Home on April 22 after a short illness. He was 90.
The service was conducted by Rev David Fletcher & the organist was Mr Tony George.
Jack was born in Middleton and was brother to the late Cyril, Mary and Betty. He attended Middleton School, and then, from the age of 14, spent the rest of his working life on local farms, starting out as a general farm labourer before concentrating on shepherding. He was particularly proud of his flock of Wenslydales that he tended on the Warter Estate, while there were always his collie dogs by his side.
Jack was a keen sportsman, playing football and cricket in his youth, not to mention pool, darts and dominoes at his two local pubs. After retirement he took up bowls, he also enjoyed gardening and spent a lot of time on his allotment, still accompanied by his dog.
Even in his final years, he liked to be out and about, either walking his dog or driving with it along the back roads to visit old friends in neighbouring villages, checking up on crops in the fields as he went.
His presence will be greatly missed by friends and neighbours alike.
Mourners present: Mrs S Palmer rep Mr Palmer & Mr & Mrs G Gibbons, Mr & Mrs M Towse, Mrs R Towse rep Les & Madge Heseltine & Gladys & Colin Roebuck, Mrs Vera Breakwell rep Syble Milner, Mrs Marion Cook, Mrs Jo Howarth, Mrs Kath Bentley rep The Parish Council, Tim & John Noble rep E Noble, Sue & John Haldenby, Colin & Dorothy Robinson, Gary Johnson rep David Johnson, Mr K Smith rep Neil, A Walker, Andrew Cage rep Janet Cage, Mr R Burdass, Mrs Susan Ullyott rep the family, Louise Newlove rep the Post Office, James & Ann Swallow, Mr K Grantham, Mr T Sims, Mr Ian Swallow, Roger & Win Soanes rep the Bowls Club, Sue & David Peacock rep D Skinns & Rob Bradley, Mr & Mrs F Coulson, Mr & Mrs J Coulson rep Jean Pickering, Mrs Ruth Massey, Mrs Jackie Pearson rep the School, Mrs Sue Howden, Mr & Mrs R Glover, Mr J Clancy, Mr & Mrs R Lowe, Mr & Mrs D McKee, Mrs J Smith rep Frank, Mr & Mrs F Wisher rep The History Group, Mr & Mrs D Cooper, Mr & Mrs R Bousfield, Kurt, Alistair & Lorna Bousfield, Mr John Burgess, Mrs Hazel Kaser, Mrs M Eastwood rep Lionel, Mr N Colley, Mr Dennis Barr, Mr Mike Hartley.