A FAMILY has been left distraught after a husband and wife died within six days of each other.

Brian Bland died on January 18 at the age of 55 and his wife Doreen passed away on January 23, aged 53.

The couple, of Deal Street, Freetown, Bury, both had cancer and were due to celebrate their 33rd wedding anniversary on January 26.

They were being treated at different hospitals, but in Brian’s final hours at Fairfield, staff from North Manchester General Hospital arranged for Doreen to be taken by ambulance to be at his bedside at the time of his death.

Their only child, Emma Bland, described the couple as amazingly loyal to each other and people who both had hearts of gold.

Emma, aged 29, of Walmersley Road, said: “It has been a real shock to the system for all our family. My dad’s death seemed to be the final straw for my mum. She seemed to just give up.”

Emma, who has a six-year-old son Rhys Thornton, added: “To lose them both in such a short space of time is devastating for us all.”

Doreen, who worked as a home carer, leaves three sisters and a brother. She also had two other brothers and one other sister who had died.

Brian, who worked for First as a bus driver, leaves one brother, Arthur Bland.

The couple were married at St Paul’s Church in Bury in 1978.

Brian was diagnosed with lymphoma — cancer of the immune system — and underwent chemotherapy and stem-cell transplants.

But in November, doctors told him none of the treatments had succeeded and predicted he may only live for a matter of months.

Two weeks later, Doreen suffered a stroke and was then diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Both of them were taken into different hospitals in early January.

Emma said: “My mum was having tests and treatment at North Manchester General and, with my dad, the doctors wanted to just make him comfortable. Then on the 18th, they arranged for mum to come to his bedside.

“Because of the stroke, my mum couldn’t talk properly and dad had his eyes closed, but they were saying ‘goodbye’ in their own special way by holding hands.

“They were the kind of couple who did everything together. They loved going on holiday to places like Tenerife and they enjoyed going for a drink with friends in the Turf Pub and the Roach Hotel.”

A joint funeral took place at Radcliffe Crematorium on Monday which was attended by more than 250 people. The couple had asked for anyone wishing to make contributions to donate money to Cancer Research UK.

Emma said: “The vicar, Alan Morris, gave a great service. We are now looking after my parents’ dog Sasha, who they loved dearly.

“I would like to thank my partner, John Drinkwater, who helped my dad get to and from hospital and has been such a great help to all the family.”