THE nephew of a Bolton man who helped disadvantaged youngsters gain a world-class education has paid tribute to him ahead of his funeral.

Roger Rees OBE, 92, died in Royal Bolton Hospital on Saturday, January 9, with the service set to take place this Friday in Christ Church Heaton.

Mr Rees gained a scholarship during his youth to be educated at the University of Cambridge, where he read law.

After graduating in 1951, he became a solicitor and entered into a career in public service. His posts included chief executive of the City of Salford, from 1974 to 1993, and clerk of Greater Manchester Police Authority, 1986 to 1993).

His nephew Stephen, said: “He spent most of his life in Bolton, even though he was born in Leicester, he never lived there. He moved to Bolton in 1962 and worked for Bolton Council for a while before moving to Salford Council and becoming chief executive for them until he retired.

“He grew up in a relatively poor home and managed to get to Christ’s College because of a scholarship. Since then he made substantial donations over the years to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He’s probably helped two dozen or so from poor economic households.”

Roger was made an OBE in 1990 for his contributions to public service and received an honorary degree from Salford University, as well as being made an honorary fellow of University College Salford.

He was also company secretary of Lancashire Wildlife Trust and enjoyed singing and travelling.

Stephen added: “He was very opinionated and would listen to the news and always have an opinion on what was going on. We would have lengthy conversations with him and he would call our politician’s names. He was fluent in German and Welsh and loved classical music."

His funeral takes place on Friday from 11am.

Stephen added: "The nurses at the hospital went to the trouble of playing Classic FM because he didn’t really take to the hospital’s choice of music.

"They were very good to him and they kept him happy and talked to him in his last couple of weeks.”

Donations, if desired, may be made to Roger’s favourite charity, The John Muir Trust (Charity number SC002061), Tower House, Station Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5AN.