TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who was ‘everybody’s friend’.

Robert ‘Bob’ Hughes passed away on October 27 at North Manchester Hospital surrounded by his family.

His wife Brenda has described the former RAC sales rep as a ‘teaser and a bit of a joker’ who ‘had a great sense of humour’.

She said: “To young or old people, Bob was a magnet and people would just want to be with him and he was an entertainer.

“He was very socially minded and had friends around the world.

“He used to be in the Territorial Army and was commissioned at Sandhurst.

“When he left school, he went down the pits locally and was a lead electrician on the pylons and down the mines.

“He then became an educational welfare officer then moved on to be an RAC sales rep and was a big success in that role being one of the best in the country.

“He was also the chairman of the North Board in Bolton which later became Bolton at Home.

“Bob was the founding member of the residents association on the Bradley estate in Horwich and he did a lot in the community and people knew him for that.

“We are very proud of him and what he has done in his life.”

Brenda added that travel was a passion of Bob’s.

She said: “He loved his holidays going all around the world to America, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

“He just loved to visit different places.

“I can remember going to Benidorm with our son Dean and then later going to Greece.

“Our favourite place was New York.

“We used to go on coach trips to places such as Scotland and Wales and he enjoyed them as he would be able to enjoy it more not driving.”

Bob used to play for Leigh Miners and loved to watch rugby.

Brenda added that there have been lots of messages of support after the death of the 90-year-old.

“We have had lots of cards and so many flowers that you would think it was a nursery but that just shows how loved he was and the impact he made on people’s lives.”

A service is taking place at Overdale Crematorium today at 3pm and there will be a live stream for mourners who cannot attend.

For more information contact Deighans Funeral Directors on 01204 694999.