17 photos as hundreds say final goodbye to popular Poulton salon owner Olivia Knowles

Family and friends arrived at St Cuthbert's Church for the 12.30pm service, where tributes were paid to the much-loved salon owner who was widely admired for her strength during her illness.

Olivia, who ran Olivia Knowles Hair and Beauty in Poulton, was first diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2023 despite being a keen athlete who had completed international triathlons that same year.

She underwent intensive treatment and spent long periods in hospital, later continuing to fundraise for cancer research even after learning her illness had returned.

In June 2025, The Knowles Foundation was created in Olivia’s name to support research into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and other blood cancers.

The charity is committed to advancing new treatment research and improving the availability of treatments in the UK, where there have been few major advancements in AML therapies for decades.

The foundation hopes to help change that reality so that future patients have better treatment options and outcomes.

A strictly private burial followed the church service for immediate family and invited guests.

Her strength and positivity resonated deeply within the local community - reflected in the large turnout at today’s service.

Those wishing to support The Knowles Foundation and help fund vital research can donate by visiting: https://www.theknowlesfoundation.org.uk/

Scroll through our gallery below to see 17 photos from the day as loved ones gathered to remember her: