A BOLTON grandfather celebrated turning 80 this week clambering to the top of Rivington Pike.

Ray Matthews, an ex Rivington and Blackrod student, was accompanied by members of his family as he hiked his way up to the top on the Tuesday.

Mr Matthews worked for a number of years as a company secretary for a furniture business in Bolton and later became an agent for the United Friendly later known as Royal Insurance.

Born in Westhoughton, he married Kathleen Howarth in May 1957 and together they had a son, Ian and a daughter, Pauline.

His granddaughter, Bethany Hensman, said: “After Kathleen passed away in May 2010, Ray has lived a life of no limits, determined to prove age is just a number.

“After climbing Mount Snowden, Ray decided to also mark this latest milestone with a trip to the 800 stepped salt mines in Wieliczka, Poland and a journey to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps to pay his respects in November. In my eyes he’s more than just a man turning 80 today, he’s an inspiration.”

Ray said: “I had never thought of climbing up to the top of Rivington Pike as a challenge but I wanted to do something that a lots of people my age are unable to do.

“I have been very fortunate in that I take no medication whatsoever and when I tell other people, some of who are in their 60s, they are shocked.”

He added: “My son Ian has suggested I should do the same challenge again when I reach 90, but I say let’s wait and see, that’s a long time off!”