THE GLOBE regrets to announce the deaths of two sons of Wirral as we go to press. Whilma Howe Wilkie, aged 91, who founded Wilkie's New Brighton Palace, has died. In 1953 he met his wife Suzanne, the girl on the flying trapeze, and after a whirlwind romance they took a touring circus to South Africa, where they wed shortly after.
Whilma died in South Africa, where he is survived by his widow Suzanne. The Wilkies are pictured courtesy of the New Palace.
Britain's most charitable licensee, Bernie Roscoe, aged 68, has died in North Wales after a long illness. Born in Birkenhead, he worked on the railways before taking over the smallest pub in Birkenhead, the Harp.
With his wife Muriel he won the Whitbread Community Pub of the Year Award for charity work before moving to the Ye Old Cottage, Chester. His latter years brought ill health and changes in personal circumstances but Bernie will be remembered as a great character.
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