A CARE worker is mourning a double tragedy after seeing her father and husband die just two weeks apart.

Bev Bailey lost father William Briers, 78, to pneumonia, then husband Brian Bailey lost his nine-month battle with cancer.

The mother-of-one, from Shelton Lock, saw her dad buried in Chellaston Cemetery last week and will bury her husband in a grave next to him on February 1.

Bev, 53, of Sinfin Avenue, even had to collect her father's death certificate on her birthday.

She said: "I'm not a religious person, but when my father died and Brian was ill in hospital, I looked up to the skies and said, 'you've taken one, you don't want the other one as well, do you?'.

"My dad was never without his flat cap, so, when we buried him, we put his cap in his coffin. Brian loved his fishing, so we are going to put his fishing rod in his.

"They are going to lie next to each other in the cemetery. They were good friends and got on very well."

The pair were both in hospital at the same time last month. William, who died on December 29, was in Ward 402 and Brian, who died on January 12, was in Ward 303.

Bev met Brian at Melbourne Liberal Club and the pair married two years later, in 1977.

They have one daughter, Marie Brown, a former Chellaston School pupil, who lives in Allenton. The 32-year-old works with Bev as a care manager.

Brian, 53, was well known at the city's taxi firms as he worked for many as a tyre fitter and a mechanic.

He fixed cabs for Town Tyres, National Tyres, Interline Taxis, Abbey Taxis, Derby Cabs, Motek and, most recently, LWB, in Uttoxeter Road.

Bev said: "For the past 15 years, he also worked in the evenings at UPS.

"Even when he was undergoing chemotherapy, he was out at 8am to work, into hospital for his chemo in the afternoon, back to work, then home for tea and a shower before going back to work at UPS.

"I used to joke with him sometimes, saying, 'if I had four wheels and an engine, you might take more notice of me'."

Brian's funeral will take place at 10.30am on Monday, February 1, at St Peter's Church, Chellaston, followed by his burial.

There will also be a celebration of his life at the Bridge Inn, Shelton Lock.

Bev said: "I have asked people not to wear a tie because Brian hated them.

"If we went to a wedding where he had to wear one, it would be off his neck as soon as he walked out of the church."

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