Burma Star veteran dies

Published on Wednesday 18 April 2012 15:45  ... 
 
A BURMA Star veteran, who was also an outstanding bricklayer, has died.
William O’Hara, who was known as Bill, was aged 90.

Born in Selby, Mr O’Hara grew up in the town and went to St Mary’s Catholic School and Selby Council School.

He left school at 14 and went to work in the shipyard alongside his dad and brothers.
However, he didn’t like it so tried painting and decorating. But he didn’t like that either so he became an apprentice bricklayer.

Mr O’Hara joined the Royal Artillery in 1939 aged 17 (he lied about his age to get in) and rose to the rank of Lance Bombardier.

He served most of World War Two in India before leaving the Royal Artillery in 1946.
Having returned to Selby and bricklaying, Mr O’Hara met Jean Peckover in 1951 at her mother’s shop on Flaxley Road.

They were married at Selby Abbey in 1954 and moved to Blackpool – Jean’s hometown. For the next 21 years they moved back and forth between Selby and Blackpool, before settling in the seaside resort in 1975.

They have two children, Stephen, 56, and Patricia, 53, and six grandchildren – Kayleigh, 26, Dane, 20, Scarlett, 12, Clayton, ten, Andrew, seven, and Stephanie, three.
Mr O’Hara loved snooker and playing and watching football. He supported Selby Town and Leeds United.

He had four brothers – James, John, Harry and Joe – and a sister Kathleen. Joe and Kathleen still live in Selby.

Mr O’Hara’s family said: “Bill was a very special person. He was an outstanding bricklayer and was always proud to show his family the projects he worked on. He retired aged 65, but was still pointing walls at the age of 89 and doing a good job. He had a great love of his job.”

http://www.goolecourier.co.uk/news/burma-star-veteran-dies-1-4459357#