Obituaries, Author at Bedford Independent

Obituary: Ravi Singh Gill (1971-2026)

Ravi Singh Gill, a much-loved member of Bedford’s Sikh community and a tireless supporter of people in need, sadly passed away on 6th July, 2026, aged 55. Ravi was born on 1 March 1971, in Queen’s Park...

Obituary: Michael Herd (1958-2026)

Tributes have been paid to a true champion of Bedford's grassroots music scene, Michael Herd. The team at Esquires, and local record shop, Slide, were among the first to share their...

Obituary: Michael Brian Blackledge (1932-2026)

Michael Brian Blackledge was born in St Helens, Lancashire, on 1 November 1932, the son of an Irish mother, Winnifred O'Hara, and an English father, Richard Blackledge...

Obituary: Brian Cunningham (1964-2025)

Brian Cunningham, the beloved director of Bedfordshire Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support (BRASS), has passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 61...

Obituary: Martyn Pearson (1954-2025)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Martyn Pearson after a long, bravely fought battle against cancer. Martyn was born in Elstow and showed promise from an early age...

Obituary: Gareth Woodfine (1933-2023)

Gareth Woodfine, the well-known solicitor, businessman, sportsman and philanthropist has passed away at the age of 89. A proud Welshman, Gareth started his eponymous law firm Woodfine and Co in 1971...

Obituary: Charles William Little (1952-2022)

Charles was born in Luton to Aubrey and Pat who were nurserymen with extensive land in Leagrave. He was educated with his brother Peter locally at Moorlands School...

Obituary: Heidi, local newshound and ‘prettiest dog in Bedford’ (c2006-2022)

Heidi, a rescue Staffordshire bull terrier/Collie mix, who was once crowned the ‘prettiest dog in Bedford’ and helped form a collective of local ‘newshounds’ has died aged 16. Heidi first came...

Obituary: Graham Mabbutt (1941-2022)

Graham Mabbutt, who sadly passed away on 22 June 2022, was a long-term and key member of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust and, more recently, a champion for the...

Obituary: Ian ‘Waggy’ Wagstaff 1952 – 2022

We are saddened to announce the sudden death of Bedford legend, Ian “Waggy” Wagstaff, also known to some as The Colonel, on Wednesday 13 April - known to…