Tributes have been paid to a former teacher and community stalwart who died aged 88.

Richard Geoffrey Hargreaves, passed away peacefully at St. Catherine’s Nursing Home last month after a battle with Alzheimers.

Michelle Legge, his daughter, said: “He was one of life’s true gentlemen, putting others first at every turn, that’s why we loved him – to me he was one of life’s unsung heroes.

“When he was diagnosed with the condition I was so upset, when we left the clinic he turned to me, put his arms around me and said ‘oh well we had better read up on this’ and went off to buy a book.

“He worked tirelessly in the back ground and helped so many, but was also so humble when people thanked him.”

Richard was born in Farnworth in July 1931, working at engineering firms in Mosses Gate and Little Lever before finishing his teacher training.

He went on to become a counsellor for school children, working with some students with special educational needs.

Michelle added: "There was a young lad called Ziggy who was deaf and dumb, his mother would often call in to see my dad to check how things were going.

"Unfortunately she became unwell, and one day she approached my dad to ask him a favour as Ziggy had no surviving relatives and she was quite distressed that he would not manage by himself but as he was 18 he was classed as an adult.

"Her dying wish was that my dad became his guardian, which he immediately accepted and made a legal obligation which he carried out for 25 years until Ziggy passed away."

Richard formed Beacon Counselling Services with three friends, Alan Thornton, John Williams, and Sister Mary Jean Robinson.