'Gent by name, gent by nature' - funeral held for former Bolton Evening News editor Les Gent

The service for the late journalist was held at the packed Church Of St Thomas And St John in Lostock before a cremation at West Chapel, Overdale.

Among the prayers and hymns were a number of tributes from former colleagues and friends, including Malcolm Ryding, David Kavanagh, Katy Morley and current editor in chief of The Bolton News Ian Savage.

Mr Ryding, a former editor of the Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton Journal, said: "Les's funeral has brought together folk from a wide spectrum of life. Family, friends, social, business, commerce and media from Bolton and beyond.

"People whose lives have been enhanced, encouraged and improved by having Les Gent play a part in it.

"I'm grateful that he played a pivotal part in my professional life many years ago, appointing me into my role as editor of the Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton Journal.

"Throughout a journalist's career and throughout business life in general one of the biggest challenges is to act with integrity.

"Refusing to compromise your ethics to get ahead is increasingly important and for me it is the day-to-day decisions that colleagues notice. And colleagues noticed Les Gent's."

David Kavanagh read out a tribute written by Les's wife of 48 years Barbara.

He said: "Les cared about Bolton and its people and its local history. Above all he was a family man, he enjoyed his home life and spending time with his friends, many of whom are here today.

"Les really enjoyed life and life enjoyed Les."

Mr Gent, who lived in Lostock, died aged 79 of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at the Royal Bolton Hospital on Thursday, July 6.

His career spanned 48 years and he was editor of the paper for seven years from 1979 to 1986, overseeing the transition from broadsheet to tabloid.

Les started in a role on sister weekly newspapers the Farnworth and Worsley Journal, the Horwich and Westhoughton Journal and the Bolton Journal.

He wrote about his time at the paper as part of the 150th anniversary souvenir edition of The Bolton News, writing about his role in introducing a nostalgia column.

He launched and produced on a daily basis the ‘Looking Back’ column, which is still a daily feature of the paper and has its own weekly pull-out on Wednesdays.

Mr Gent was also known for his love of local history, penning two books Bolton Past in 1985 and Making Headlines in 2005.

He also received an Honorary Fellowship at Bolton Institute ‘in recognition of outstanding contribution to journalism and local history’ in 1998.

And he was presented with an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton in 2010.

Mr Savage, who worked with Mr Gent for many years, praised the former editor's passion for his craft and described him as a 'journalist's journalist'.

He said: "He cared passionately about journalism and about Bolton.

"He was the ideal candidate to take over as editor in 1979.

"I worked for many years with Les and he was tremendously supportive when he realised that I was interested in one day also sitting in that editor's chair.

"Les touched the lives of thousands and he always had positive words of encouragement.

"If you can leave this life knowing you have made a difference there is no finer legacy. We all know that to be true about Les.

"Les was Gent by name and gent by nature."

Mr Gent leaves a widow Barbara, to whom he was married for 48 years, and his two children, Mark and Susan.