John Ardley

Former medical officer of health Blackburn (b Stanley, Co Durham, 1916; q Durham 1942; DPH), d 3 February 2001. From 1943 to 1946 he served as a regimental medical officer in the Royal Artillery. He then held a triple post of assistant medical officer of health, assistant school medical officer, and assistant tuberculosis officer in Gateshead. After posts in Southport and Coventry he moved to Blackburn where he remained until he retired in 1977. In each job polio followed him and 1965 saw the Blackburn epidemic. In 1981 the Ardley Day Centre for the Elderly, named in his honour, was opened in Blackburn. He was an avid reader, did cine photography, and painted in oils, so his partial loss of sight in later years was a big blow to him. In retirement he suffered much from asthma. He leaves a wife, Sally. …