RELATIVES and friends turned out in their hundreds for the funeral of hairdresser Gillian Errington-Taylor following her death at the age of 45.

Gillian, who lived at White Ox Way, Penrith, with her husband Jonathan Taylor, was born and raised in Askham, the daughter of Connie and the late William Errington.

Brought up on the family farm at Town Head, which is now run by her brother Malcolm, Gillian retained a lifelong attachment to the farm and its surrounding countryside.

One of five children, she was a pupil of Askham School before going on to attend Tynefield School, in Penrith. Her working life began as an apprentice at Millicans hairdressers in the town, where she started as a junior and over the course of 20 years rose to a senior position. In her early days at Millicans she attended Carlisle College part-time and gained her hairdressing qualifications.

In 1996 Gillian married Jonathan, the couple having their wedding reception at the Haweswater Hotel, close to one of Gillian’s favourite walking routes around Haweswater itself.

She started her own business as a mobile hairdresser, building up a large and loyal clientele across a wide area, many of whom became good friends over the years.

Very much a “people person”, Gillian had a wide circle of friends, both locally and further afield. Among her closest friends was Elizabeth Wright, who she had known since childhood, when they were both pupils at Askham school.

Gillian also took a lot of pleasure in her family, particularly her seven nephews and nieces, with whom she enjoyed spending time.

She was a frequent visitor to Askham, where her mother still lives and where her brother Malcolm and sister-in-law Sylvia run the family farm.

Travel was a great interest and Gillian had toured extensively in Europe as well as further afield in Africa and Hawaii. Ireland was also a favourite destination which she had visited several times.

About a year ago Gillian was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and underwent both a bone marrow transplant and a lymphocyte cell transplant in the subsequent months. In both cases the donor was Gillian’s brother, Andrew.

Despite these and other treatments at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, and the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, Gillian suffered a relapse and died on 1st April.

Gillian faced her illness with characteristic quiet determination and the 500-plus get well cards she received at the onset of her illness are a testament to the high regard in which she was held.

Her family this week expressed their gratitude to the staff at both hospitals, as well as those at Penrith’s Birbeck Medical Practice, Macmillan nurses and Hospice at Home.

More than 300 people turned out for Gillian’s funeral service at Carlisle crematorium, with a private service for family at St. Peter’s Church, Askham, beforehand.

Gillian is survived by her husband Jonathan, mother Connie, brothers Malcolm and Andrew and sisters Carol and Judith, as well as nephews, nieces, sisters and brothers-in-law.

A collection in her memory is to be divided between Leukaemia Research, ward eight at the RVI and Larch D ward at the Cumberland Infirmary. Donations can still be made through Richardsons funeral directors, Penrith.