When Louise Gott died of cancer last September, her friends at Rivington Morris knew exactly how to raise funds for Bolton Hospice in her memory – with a ceilidh.

Louise had been a member of the well-known Morris dancing group for 30 years. She was a much-loved and influential member and the team’s leader for seven years.

She was diagnosed with the terminal disease just after her husband and fellow Morris member Mike Gott had died suddenly.

The couple did not have children, and close relatives lived some distance away, so her Rivington Morris “family” organised a rota so that she had support at her appointments, regular visitors throughout her illness and during her stay with us at the hospice.

And they even brought along her much-loved pet black rabbit Chamomile to see her for a cuddle on a regular basis. “She really loved to see her and had always kept house rabbits,” explained Elaine Howarth, who took over the rabbit’s care when Louise first became ill.

The idea of raising money for Bolton Hospice “seemed exactly the right thing to do” stated another Rivington Morris member Jenny Foster.

“They were so marvelous with her there,” she said. “I’d never been in a hospice before and was amazed at the level of care they showed all their patients. It’s a wonderful place!”

Louise, who lived in Horwich, was a cook at Bolton School nursery, and devoted her spare time to Rivington Morris.

“Louise was a leader – she called the dancing,” stated Hanneke Van Dijk. “She never complained, even when she couldn’t dance anymore. She simply then played the melodeon at practices and dance outs and played for us from her wheelchair.”

The ceilidh in her memory was held at Horwich RMI and £1,754 was raised. Rivington Morris sends special thanks to ceilidh band OATS, caller Roger Downing and sound people Tim Marris and Ann Mace who all donated their services. The group also thanked Horwich RMI for their great help.