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New heartache for Chorley stab victim
The grandad of brave stab victim Jessica Knight has lost his battle against cancer.
Alan Walmsley became the public face for Jessica's devastated family in the immediate aftermath of the teenager's brutal stabbing.
He lent his support to a joint campaign between the Chorley and Leyland Guardian and the local community which ended up raising around 20,000 for the Euxton teenager.
However, after suffering chronic back pain he was diagnosed with bone cancer and died on Tuesday at St Catherine's Hospice in Lostock Hall. He was 71.
This week his family paid tribute to a 'perfect grandad and father'.
Daughter Jill Walmsley, 40, from Euxton, said her father came into his own in the wake of her daughter's brutal stabbing two-and-a-half years ago in Astley Park.
"He was my rock," she said. "He was there for me. His children and his grandchildren came first. When Jessica was stabbed he became the public face of the family, even though the attention wasn't something he was not comfortable with.
"Jessica was very close to her grandad."
* Send your tributes to christopher.maguire@lep.co.uk
FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S GUARDIAN
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Weather for Chorley
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
