Remembering the North West’s finest | Manchester News

Fond farewells have been said to some of the north-west of England’s biggest names in entertainment, public life and sport who died in 2025.

In a year that saw the soaring highs of Manchester’s Oasis home-coming concerts and Liverpool winning the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season since taking over from Jurgen Klopp, we also said a sad goodbye to some of the region’s favourite personalities.

Here is another chance to remember some of those who left an indelible mark on the colourful story of our special corner of the country.

The world of football was shocked to the core when Liverpool’s dazzling winger and Portuguese international Diego Jota, 28, was killed in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva, 25.

They died when their Lamborghini left the road due to a tyre blow-out and then caught fire while overtaking another vehicle in the Spanish province of Zamora on 3 July.

Jota had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, the previous month.

Liverpool said it was “devastated” by the loss of Jota, who signed from Wolves for £41m in 2020 – and his number 20 shirt was retired by the club.

His wake was attended by both the president and prime minister of Portugal.

As the team’s league form varied in consistency, pundits including ex-Red Stephen Warnock pondered on Match Of The Day if the players’ grief for a popular teammate could have affected their performances.

Gary “Mani” Mounfield, bassist with legendary Manchester band The Stone Roses, died on 20 November at the age of 63.

He died peacefully in his sleep of respiratory issues linked to a long-standing lung condition, about two years after his beloved wife Imelda died of cancer.

His bass playing was an integral part of The Stone Roses’ “baggy” sound, as heard on seminal tracks like Fools Gold.

He went on to join Primal Scream in 1996 and played with them for 15 years before rejoining his old band for a series of reunion gigs.

Stars from the music world gathered for his funeral at Manchester Cathedral with his bandmates joined by artists including Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Mike Joyce from The Smiths, Peter Hook of New Order and Mark “Bez” Berry from Happy Mondays.

Also among the mourners were ex-Manchester United stars David Beckham and Gary Neville, who would once run onto the pitch at Old Trafford as The Stone Roses track This Is The One played over the stadium’s speakers, complete with Mani’s trademark rumbling bass line.

Linda Nolan, 65, one of the six famous sisters of the 1970s band The Nolans, died on 15 January after a cancer diagnosis, with her family at her bedside in Blackpool.

Spotted by an agent from London at the seaside town’s Cliffs Hotel, where a blue plaque was later unveiled in tribute to the star, her band had a string of hits and became regulars on the ‘s Top Of The Pops.

The Nolans rose from those humble beginnings to eventually performing with Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas.

Once the band split, Nolan became synonymous with Blackpool’s showbiz scene and had a solo career at Maggie May’s cabaret show, which ran on the Central Pier for nearly a decade.

One of three Nolan sisters to play Mrs Johnstone in the celebrated show Blood Brothers, she was a great advocate of live performances, championing Blackpool’s Grand Theatre and providing great support to those who set up the Showtown entertainment museum.

Entertainers including her former brother-in-law Shane Richie and Paul Elliott, the comedian better known as Paul Chuckle, were among those who attended her funeral at St Paul’s Church in Marton.

Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton died at the age of 46 on 14 September.

Devastating opponents as the Hitman, he won global titles at light-welterweight and welterweight level and became one of Britain’s most popular fighters.

His body was found at his home in Gee Cross, Greater Manchester, and an inquest was opened in October and adjourned to March.

The great and the good of the sporting world paid tribute to him.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Hatton was a “true champion” and “part of the Man City family”.

Former boxer Thomas McDonagh, who runs Collyhurst and New Moston boxing gym, told Radio Manchester: “Everyone loved Ricky.

“He was one of the boys.

“Ricky from the council estate up the road made it all the way to Las Vegas.”

Hatton earned notable wins over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, before defeats by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

More than 30,000 fans travelled to Las Vegas for his title fight with Mayweather in 2007, and a chorus of “there’s only one Ricky Hatton” echoed around the MGM Grand even after the fight was stopped.

In 2023 he was the subject of a documentary in which he discussed his personal life and mental health issues.

Alongside fellow greats Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, Denis Law was one of the stars of the all-conquering Manchester United team of the 1960s which won two league titles, the FA Cup and the European Cup.

The former Scotland striker, who also played for Manchester City, died at the age of 84 on 17 January after living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Known as both The King and The Lawman, he spent 11 years at Old Trafford with his 237 goals in 404 appearances placing him third in United’s goalscoring history behind Wayne Rooney and Charlton.

Born in Aberdeen, Law began his career with Huddersfield Town, also had a spell in Italy with Torino, and was capped 55 times for his country. His 30 goals make him Scotland’s joint top scorer of all time.

He was sold for a British record fee three times during his career.

Sir Alex Ferguson told mourners at his funeral in Manchester Cathedral how Brazilian legend Pele once said Law was the only British player who could have got into his great Brazil team, and that is “a fantastic tribute”.

Manchester United said the city was mourning the loss of “the King of the Stretford End”.

The club added: “He will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most beloved players.”

Victims of crime commissioner Baroness Helen Newlove died in November at the age 63 following a short illness.

The Conservative peer was appointed to the role twice.

She became a campaigner and activist following the death of her husband Garry, 47, who was killed in August 2007 when he confronted a gang of youths who had vandalised their car in Warrington.

Three teenagers were convicted of his murder in January 2008.

Newlove was made a life peer for her work on youth crime in 2010.

“Helen was a committed and passionate advocate for victims,” her office said in a statement, adding that she was a “dear friend and a respected colleague” who “transformed” the role of commissioner.

Tributes were also paid in the House of Lords, while Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy praised her “unparalleled experience and dedication” to her role.

She had been most recently appointed to the role in 2023 and was due to serve until the end of this year.

She previously served as commissioner from 2012 to 2019.

Tributes were paid on the Isle of Man and further afield to bomb disposal specialist Chris Garrett, who was killed while volunteering in Ukraine.

The 40-year-old was involved in an incident near Izyum, in the east of the country, on 6 May.

He had been working to clear mines and train Ukrainian troops since 2014 and had co-founded a humanitarian and mine clearance charity called Prevail Together with his partner Courtney Pollock.

One of the organisation’s board members, Shaun Pinner, said Mr Garrett’s legacy would carry on through the charity’s work and he would remain “like a talisman”.

He praised Mr Garrett, who was known as Swampy to his friends and left behind a young daughter, for his record clearing some 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of land mines throughout his time in the war-torn country.

Originally from the Manx town of Peel, Mr Garrett had previously volunteered in Burma.

In Ukraine he also helped in civilian evacuations and the procurement of humanitarian supplies.