Town mourns artist (From Warrington Guardian)

Town mourns artist

FRIENDS of lifelong artist and music lover Frank Randall have reacted with shock to news of his death following a road accident.

Mr Randall was a long-standing member of Congleton Art Society, and painting was his passion.

The 89-year-old also enjoyed classical music, and was on his way to a concert in Manchester when he was fatally injured.

He was in collision with a car as he walked to catch a bus to see the Halle Orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall.

He suffered head injuries, and was taken to the trauma unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

He died six hours later with his daughter Fiona and son-in-law Chris at his bedside.

Mr Randall lived in Surrey Drive, Congleton, and the accident happened on the nearby A536 Congleton to Macclesfield road.

Christmas and New Year evoke sad memories for the family, as Mr Randall's son Rodney died in December 1966 in a road accident.

The accident also happened on the A536, at Gawsworth, and Rodney, who was cycling at the time, was only 21.

Mr Randall died just after midnight on Thursday, five years to the day since his wife Hilda was buried.

"The reaction to my father's death from his friends has been shock," said Fiona.

"They said he was such a lovely man, and he loved talking to people.

"He was a prolific artist, and painted thousands of pictures.

"Painting was a compulsion for my father, and it sustained him over the past five years."

Landscapes and trees were among Mr Randall's favourite subjects, as well as Gawsworth Church, and he was Congleton Art Society's 2004 painter of the year.

He was a draughtsman, and worked for A V Roe's at Woodford, which became De Havilland and British Aerospace.

He was born in Bolton, and he and his wife lived in Gawsworth and Eaton before moving to Congleton in 1981.

He served in the RAF during the Second World War, and was a member of St James' Church, Gawsworth.

The funeral is at 10.45am today, Friday, at St James', and donations are for SSAFA via John Garside funeral directors.

Mr Randall was in collision with a Vauxhall Corsa which was travelling in the direction of Macclesfield.

Witnesses are asked to ring PC Austin on 01244-612597.