| Notices | 
| Notices and announcements placed by btmrstaff.co.uk members | 
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 27-7-2025 |  
|  |  | Remembering Geoff Brown 🕊 |  
|  | Terry Hall has been in touch regarding the sad news of Geoff's death. 
 
 
 
 It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Geoff Brown – a proud Aldwinian whose contribution to the club stretched across decades.
 
 Geoff worked on External planning for many years.
 On taking a release package he became the tenant of the Silver Springs in Denton and then becoming the Steward of Aldwinians Rugby Club in Audenshaw.
 
 During his time at BT he did a two secondment in Libya laying cables in the desert.
 
 Geoff joined the GPO as an apprentice leaving in 1992 under the Sovereign scheme.
 
 
 
 From Aldwinians RUFC
 
 We are deeply saddened by the passing of Geoff Brown — a cherished member of our community and a true friend to many at Aldwinians RUFC.
 
 
 
 Geoff’s funeral service:
 
 Monday, 28th at 1:30pm
 Cypress Chapel
 Stockport Crematorium
 Buxton Rd
 SK2 6LS
 
 Following the service, we warmly invite friends and family to join us for refreshments and the opportunity to celebrate Geoff’s life together.
 Aldwinians RUFC
 Droylsden Road
 Audenshaw
 M34 5SN
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 19-7-2025 |  
|  |  | Farewell John O'Mara |  
|  |  Angela, John's daughter contacted us about the passing of her dad John. 
 
 
 I'm just emailing to let you know my dad passed away on 12th July aged 82 after a short illness.
 
 Please could you let those who may have known him from his days at BT I know.
 He worked at Dial House for 30 years from the 60's to the 90's which is also where he met my mum Beryl.
 
 All who knew him are welcome to attend. Family flowers only, donations to Parkinson's UK.
 
 Thanks,
 Angela.
 
 
 
 John's funeral:-
 
 Thursday 31st July at 10:30am
 
 Service:
 St. Edwards Church
 Spring Lane
 Lees
 Oldham
 OL4 5AJ
 
 Burial:
 Lees Cemetery
 Thomas Street
 Lees
 Oldham
 OL4 5BT
 
 Refreshments:
 The Grapes
 161 St. John Street
 Lees
 Oldham
 OL4 3DR
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 3-8-2025 |  
|  |  | Goodbye Peter Mannion |  
|  |  Jeff Horsfall contacted us with the sad news of Peter's death. 
 
 
 Pete passed away on 16th July 2025 after succumbing to that dreaded disease, dementia. The last couple of years have been challenging, to say the least, for everyone that knew him, especially his family. He is finally now at rest.
 
 Pete joined the GPO, as an apprentice, in 1959 60. He is probably best known for his time as ‘TO-In-Charge’ at Prestbury Exchange. When the exchange was upgraded to digital he moved onto Subs App and Line, where he was Special Faults Investigator on Macclesfield RSC area.
 
 After the RSC closed Pete then took up a manager post, in Church Street, Manchester. He left BT mid 1990s on one of the many ‘early release schemes’ and became ‘book keeper’ at his sons plumping business.
 
 He was a great character and sadly, joins a growing army of the GPO’s PO Telephones BT’s greatest.
 
 RIP Peter.
 
 
 
 Peters Funeral:
 
 Wednesday 20th August at 11:00am
 The Parish Church of St James the Great
 Church Lane
 Gawsworth
 Macclesfield
 SK11 9RJ
 
 Followed by a private Service of Committal which will take place at 12.15 p.m. at Macclesfield Crematorium.
 
 Family flowers only, by request, but donations may be made, if so desired, in favour of the Macular Society and the East Cheshire Eye Society Talking Newspaper.
 
 For further information contact the funeral directors:
 Andrew Smith Funeral Services
 Park Green House
 82 Sunderland Street
 Macclesfield
 Cheshire
 SK11 6HN
 Telephone: 01625 433 853
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|  |  1 comment posted by: andy redford |  |  | 
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 29-7-2025 |  
|  |  | Farewell Phil Taylor |  
|  | Alan Farrell contacted us with the sad news of Phil's passing. 
 Just to clear up a discrepancy:
 It has emerged that there were two Phil Taylors that worked for BT in the Manchester region. Phil Taylor refered to in this notice was originally from Bury and worked on Construction in Manchester North area then later moved to Twickenham. I attached a photo from our gallery, now removed, which was the wrong photo. Sorry about the confusion and thanks to Ken Monaghan and John Ogden for pointing this out.
 
 
 
 From Alan:
 
 I am very sad having to notify you of the death of s great friend of mine Phil Taylor as we say a rett grand lad.
 
 He died on the 7 July at his home in London. He worked on Exchange construction staff NE32. He left B.T. and went to work for I.B.M. many years ago.
 
 
 
 
 It is likely that Phil's funeral will be too far to travel for most people, but if we get details from Alan we'll add them to the notice.
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|  |  3 comments posted by: Graham Beesley, Ken Monaghan, Dave Richardson, |  |  | 
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 27-6-2025 |  
|  |  | Farewell Norman Newsham |  
|  | John Coburn contacted us with the sad news of Norman's death. 
 
 
 Steve Newsham, Norman’s son has been in contact with me to advise of the sudden death of Norman Newsham, early in June.
 
 Norman has been retired for a few years I think during the project sovereign cull, he worked mostly in the Blackfriars Central area of Manchester as a fitter customer works engineer when I knew him has a young trainee. I may have some of those facts slightly wrong.
 
 
 
 
 Steve has advised us of the funeral details:
 
 Wednesday 2nd July at 14.30
 Blackley Crematorium
 Victoria Avenue
 Blackley
 M9 8JP
 
 Following on from around 15:30
 GMB Whitehouse Club
 193 Middleton Rd
 Crumpsall
 Manchester
 M8 4JZ
 
 Everyone is very welcome if they can't make the service.
 Thanks, Steve Newsham.
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|  |  2 comments posted by: Noel Michael Garlick, John Clegg, |  |  | 
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| From: Ian Clayton | Posted: 18-6-2025 |  
|  |  | Farewell John Kerr |  
|  |  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but John Kerr passed away on Saturday 14 06 25.   He had been ill for about 15 months I believe. 
 Before I worked with John I think he was on the external side mostly working Central Manchester I think.
 
 I worked with John for 10 years on Transmission and 21CN planning from 1999 until 2009 first in Telecom House and then in Dial.
 
 He then went into the CTC and had a bit of a bad time but eventually got a job on Openreach first planning Heavy cable recovery I think and then soon went on to FTTC planning in both Prestwich and Preston and then more field based resolving issues on FTTP provision.
 
 He was a good friend and liked by all who knew him.
 
 
 John’s funeral details are:
 
 Wednesday 2nd July at 10:30
 Charnock Richard Crematorium
 Preston Road
 Chorley
 PR7 5JP
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|  |  1 comment posted by: Mike Forster |  |  | 
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 12-6-2025 |  
|  |  | RIP Kenneth Michael Gregory 1946-2025 |  
|  |  Harry Bannister broke the sad news of the death of Kenneth Michael Gregory 
 
 
 I’ve just found out that my old  work  pal  Kenneth Michael Gregory  so Ken to some and Mike to others has passed away after being diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago.
 
 We both  joined the GPO as was in 1963 as Y3YC's and came out of our time in Pioneer in 1966,  and subsequently transferred to Rampart. I was then transferred to Transit and Mike joined me a few years later. Anybody who knew him will know he was a solitary figure who never married and whose only passion was for the Mini, which is probably why he never married.
 
 According to a close friend there will be no funeral service and his body will be cremated but if I hear of any change I'll contact Graham with the details.
 
 Best wishes,
 Harry
 
 
 
 Further information and confirmation that there will be no funeral service.
 
 It seems Mike has opted for a pure cremation to keep the costs down, so basically his body is delivered to the crematorium and cremated, with absolutely no fanfare so there's no point in hanging fire for further developments.
 
 I've been meeting up with his pals ever since we all retired twenty years ago so we'll have a a bit of a wake for him the next time we meet.
 
 Harry.
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|  |  3 comments posted by: Dave Timperley, Stephen Corless, Colin Dutton, |  |  | 
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 4-6-2025 |  
|  |  | Farewell Cyril Guest |  
|  | Alan Farrell notified us of the passing of Cyril. 
 
 
 Message:-
 I have just been informed of the death of Cyril Guest at the age of 90.
 He was an Exchange construction man. He worked in the north area, after it was split into three. He moved to St Annes after he retired.
 
 Alan.
 
 
 
 Cyril's funeral details:
 
 Monday 16 June at 12:15
 Lytham Park Crematorium
 Regent Avenue
 Lytham Saint Annes
 Lancashire
 FY8 4AB
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|  |  1 comment posted by: Andrew Hurley |  |  | 
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 30-5-2025 |  
|  |  | Farewell John Chant |  
|  | More sad news, Alan Farrell contacted about the death of John's Chant. 
 
 
 I have just been informed of the death of a very good friend of mine John Chant.
 He passed away yesterday May 27. He had been in bad health for quite a long time. As of yet I have no details of any of the arrangement, but will update A.S.A.P.
 John spent most of his service in the north of the areas. He started as a youth on Subs App and line, then on exchange construction, followed by a period on E.L and P. He left B.T. in 1993
 
 
 
 Further details to follow.
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| From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 17-5-2025 |  
|  |  | R.I.P Geoff Bygrave |  
|  | John Dillon contacted us regarding the sad news of Geoff's passing. 
 
 
 Geoff’s wife contacted me with sad news of his death.
 
 He passed away on 7th May at his home in Settle in the Yorkshire Dales. He had bravely fought his cancer for 13 years before it finally took him.
 
 I only got to know Geoff when he joined Cellnet but I know many people will have worked alongside Geoff in his many roles in Dial House.
 R.I.P Geoff, it was a pleasure to have known you.
 
 John.
 
 
 Geoff's funeral details:-
 
 Thursday 22nd May at 12:00
 Skipton Crematorium
 Waltonwrays Cemetery
 Carleton Road
 Skipton
 BD23 3BT
 
 
 If anyone will be attending leave condolences and please leave in comments and I will pass on to the family.
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|  |  2 comments posted by: Kevin Grimshaw, Phil Turner, |  |  | 
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