Having trained countless hairdressers - who have welcomed many hundreds of customers to their salon chairs over the years - it seems very fitting that the late John Eaton is to be remembered with very special seating.
The popular Nelson & Colne College lecturer passed away in May aged 63.
John – who was a remarkable testimony to the will to live – spent his last days at Nelson Manor Care Centre.
His twin brother Chris and sister-in-law Nina used some of the £1,170 donated by his friends and admirers, to buy a beautiful bench in his name. It has been placed on the balcony of the nursing floor at Nelson Manor, where John loved to sit to enjoy the garden views.
The remaining £400 was be donated to the NW Air Ambulance service.
Originally from Nottingham, John taught hairdressing at Nelson & Colne College for 28 years, when his career was cut short by a massive brain haemorrhage.
He was in a coma for some weeks after, and his family were preparing to turn his life-support machines off when to the amazement of his doctors he began to recover.
After staying in a series of care homes he settled in the newly built Nelson Manor, and was delighted to be back in his adopted home town.
Nelson Manor Manager Janine Kelly said: “Despite serious health issues, John was the life and soul of the place during his time with us. His room was on the nursing floor, but he socialised throughout the building and was often in reception to greet visitors.
“He was full of enthusiastic ideas for how we could grow and develop Nelson Manor, never losing his creative touch or his passion for passing on skills.
“We are very grateful that Chris and Nina have chosen to spend some of the donations on a bench for other nursing residents to enjoy. I know John would approve heartily.”