A Derby care worker was left mourning a double tragedy after seeing her father and husband die just two weeks apart.

Mother-of-one Bev Bailey lost father William Briers, 78, to pneumonia, then husband Brian Bailey lost his nine-month battle with cancer aged 53.

She paid tribute to them both saying: "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. William died on 29 December and Brian, died 12 January.

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 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'."

http://www.thisisderbyshire. co.uk/news/Woman-loses-father- husband-tragic-fortnight/ article-1749340-detail/ article.html [thisisderbyshire.co.uk]