A widower wore a ‘silly’ hat in memory of his late wife to raise money for charity. Alban Hall, of Hardman Close, Knuzden, donned a miniature Irish-themed hat and walked around Accrington, Shadsworth and Blackburn in aid of Brain Tumour Research.

 It follows the death of his wife Beryl Hall, 80, on February 15 last year.

She had a brain tumour. The former telephone engineer wore the hat in Accrington town centre on Tuesday, March 25, before taking part in national ‘Wear a Hat’ day on Friday, March 28. Alban, 81, said his wife was only diagnosed with a brain tumour 17 days before she passed away.

He said: “It was absolutely devastating.

“When she got diagnosed she was put on morphine because of the pain and when she was between doses she be hitting her head waiting for it to kick in. It was very distressing.

“She was such a lovely little lady. She was only tiny but never grumbled or moaned. She had a great sense of humour and was an amazing woman.

“Since we turned 70 we had walked more than 900 miles along canals together as the doctors said it would be good for her arthritis.” Alban, who also served in the army on National Service, said former Mullards worker Beryl would be ‘proud’ of his fundraising activities.

He said: “You read about things like swimming and climbing and distance walking and I just thought I could certainly wear a hat, so I must do it. There is no excuse for not doing that.

“When I saw this one I thought it was a good one to wear as my granddad was Irish. “I ate with the hat on in Accrington Market Hall on Tuesday and people were asking me what I was doing.

“When I told them, they were happy to sponsor me. I must have got about 15 people while walking around the town. “ I’m keeping the memory of Beryl alive. People knew her in Accrington as we always came in on Tuesdays. “Everybody was devastated as she loved a good natter and a laugh. “It just makes you fill up thinking about it.” The grandfather-of-two said he aims to raise around £400 for the charity. To donate text WEAR12 £3 to 70070.