RETIRED Westhoughton pharmacist John Parr showed remarkable generosity when he gave £1.78 million to Manchester's Christie Hospital.

He died earlier this month after a fall aged 101, and a close friend revealed Mr Parr's gift.

This was probably genuinely done so that people might appreciate such a wonderful gesture, but he may not have done Mr Parr any real favours.

As well as being a "true gentleman", as friends described him, Mr Parr was obviously a very private person and wanted no recognition for his actions. He would probably have been horrified at having them made so public.

Perhaps in retrospect, it would have been more fitting to let the memory of this shy benefactor rest quietly, and anonymously, in peace.