Co-operator May Woodall has died aged 91

May Woodall, who was president of Blackpool Co-operative Women’s Guild and a director of United Co-operatives, has passed away at the age of 91.

Born May Tucker in 1923 in Sheffield, her first job was picking up pins at a tailor’s shop. She worked hard and eventually became a skilled machinist. She then joined the Co-op where she acquired shorthand typing skills.

Later she was called up into the army and made the rank of sergeant. She was despatched to Whitehall where she was involved with typing operational orders for troops on the frontline.

After the war, May returned to Sheffield, where she met Eric Woodall. They married in 1948 and in 1955 had a daughter, Denise, who tragically died the same day. In 1959 they had a son, John.

When Eric’s job at the steelworks became short time working in 1961, the family moved to Blackpool, buying the Catremar boarding house on Hull Road.

While there, May joined the Co-op Women’s Guild. She became president of the Blackpool Co-op Women’s Guild and then president of the Cleveleys Women’s Guild.

The guild members voted May onto the Co-operative member relations committee. Later she became a director of Norwest Co-operative Society, which later became United Co-operatives.

May achieved the co-operative company director’s diploma before retiring from United Co-op at the age of 65.

A widow since 1984, May retired to live in a private house at the age of 78. She remained very active and achieved a computer literacy certificate. She was the oldest person on the course.

She lived her retirement to the full, and particularly enjoyed the time spent with her son John on their twice yearly holidays to Tenerife.

May Woodall passed away on 12 October after a short illness.