Peter Canavan

A Shropshire mother-of-three today recalled how footballing legend Sir Bobby Robson never forgot her family after the death of her son.

Edna Canavan, of Telford, met Sir Bobby through her son, Peter, when he joined Ipswich Town as an apprentice before turning professional.

Sir Bobby Robson, who was manager at Ipswich at the time Peter signed, died yesterday.

Just over 30 years ago, at the age of 17, Peter, a former Blessed Robert Johnson student, who also played for the England youth team, was killed in a car crash in Felixstowe.

Edna, 86, of Baldwin Webb Avenue, Donnington, whose husband, Jack, died on Boxing Day at the age of 86, said: “On November 22, the day that Peter died, he always sent us a remembrance card.

“And on the day of the funeral the first team and reserve teams from Ipswich came in great big coaches for the service in Donnington at the Catholic church.

“We had a bit of tea in one of the church halls and Bobby Robson was with us all the time.

“He said: ‘Edna you lost a son today, I have lost a son today’. I thought he meant his own son. He said: ‘Peter was like a son to me. He used to come to my house in Ipswich and him and me used to have banana sandwiches and a cup of tea and have a game of football in my garden.’ Ever since he always kept in touch.”

The pensioner, who used to work at COD Donnington, said Sir Bobby had sent them birthday, Christmas and remembrance cards.

The last one was a remembrance card when Mrs Canavan’s husband died when Sir Bobby told her to “keep smiling” but disclosed he was not in the best of health himself.

She said: “I am so sad about it today. He has been such a good man the time we have known him. He had a smile for everyone, he was kindhearted and dedicated to football and his footballers.”

Mrs Canavan, who has daughters Sheila and Eileen, comes from Esh-Winning in County Durham, near to Sir Bobby’s home village of Langley Park. He also invited her and her husband to Barcelona to watch a football match.