A BURY man who worked his way up from the shop floor to become general manager at the town’s Barker & Dobson confectionery works has died.

Mr John Reddy died in Fairfield Hospital last Friday after a long illness.

The 74-year-old, of Walmersley Road, leaves a widow, Jessie, and four children. He joined the then Bensons works in Huntley Mount Road as a sugar baler at the age of 15 and subsequently the firm was taken over by Barker & Dobson. He rose to group general manager throughout his 32-year career with the company.

Later, he worked at the Callard and Bowser confectionery factory in Wales for 10 years before taking early retirement through ill-health.

For many years, he was a well-known table tennis player and represented several clubs. He was featured in a number of sports-related books. Illness forced him to give up the game six years ago.

A funeral service and burial will take place at Bury Cemetery next Wednesday at 2pm.