Funeral procession through home town for crime novelist Sheila Quigley who died aged 72

Author Sheila Quigley sadly died in April | JPIMedia

Houghton residents can say their final farewell to author Sheila Quigley as the funeral procession travels through her home town.

Tributes flooded in for Sheila who passed away in the early hours of Friday, April 24 following a brief spell in Sunderland Royal Hospital.

The talented grandmother, who was a pioneer in her field of crime fiction, was much-loved in the community and she was a proud ambassador for her home town of Houghton.

Her devoted family have released the funeral details for Houghton residents who would like to pay their respects to Sheila.

Sheila was a Hetton town councillor | JPIMedia

Due to the ongoing lockdown measures, there will be a private ceremony at St Michael’s Church on Thursday, May 14, but the funeral procession will drive through Houghton beforehand.

The funeral procession will leave Sheila’s home in Grasswell at 1.45pm, going up to Newbottle and then down the bank towards the Beehive before turning left at the Beehive roundabout.

They will then head along Blind Lane, turn right at the former Kentmere House and drive through Burnside arriving at Houghton Library at approximately 2pm.

There will be a slow drive through Newbottle Street and onto The Broadway to St Michael’s Church.

Sheila, pictured at Gateshead market in the 90s, was a market trader for many years. | Other 3rd Party

Over the years, Sheila became a best-selling author with novels such as Bad Moon Rising, Living on a Prayer, Every Breath You Take and her latest release in 2011, Stand By Me.

Sheila used her fame to campaign for many issues over the years, such as running in local elections and keeping libraries open, which was a particular passion of hers.

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Author Sheila Quigley with trustees of Whitburn Library at it's reopening. | JPIMedia

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