Bernadette Nolan grave (17^th October 1960 to 4^th July 2013)

When I was seven I can remember seeing The Nolans on Top Of The Pops miming their most commercial hit I’m In The Mood For Dancing. I can remember the five sisters (and there were two brothers) looking similar as siblings often do – and so young.

You expect folk to live a long life and generally die in the order in which they were born. However cancer cares for nobody nor their age and often indiscriminately picks one out to go early. Though Bernadette (Bernie) was the second youngest sister she died of cancer aged 52 and here I am at her grave at Blackpool's main cemetery.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer aged 50 after a successful career as a singer, a performer in numerous musicals and a television actress. Though the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes treatment rendered her free of cancer. However two years later it returned and spread to most vital organs. She died while sleeping at home in Surrey and left a husband and daughter.

There was a meticulously-planned funeral service held at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre and she was buried here north of Blackpool Tower. At 38 she’d given birth to a stillborn daughter Kate and joined her here until plante Earth burns up. Hard luck lass. I did a salute and left.

The funeral service was held at The Grand Theatre in central Blackpool…