A FAMILY is mourning the loss of a kind-hearted grandfather who died on November 7 at Bury Hospice.

Peter Holcroft, aged 81, of Fishpool, Bury, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure, in January.

He was nursed at home until five days before his death, when he was cared for the hospice.

Mr Holcroft leaves Alma, his wife of 51 years, children David, Beverley, Stephen and Michelle and grandchildren Amy, Hannah and Elisha.

Bury-born Mr Holcroft lived and worked in the town all his life, apart from 1957 to 1959 when he completed his National Service, serving with the Fusiliers in Cyprus.

Mr Holcroft worked as a self-employed builder before becoming a boiler man at Crompton Paper Mill in the town.

Following his retirement at the age of 65, Mr and Mrs Holcroft enjoyed extended winter holidays in Goa, India.

For 17 years, between November and March, they rented a house in the province, where they made many friends.

Last year, however, they chose to stay at home and enjoyed Christmas with their family for the first time in years.

Mr Holcoft’s daughter, Michelle Savage, said her father was known for his kindness. When he was a builder he took pity on people who could not afford to pay, even returning home with a trailer tent instead of cash on once occasion.

“He felt sorry for the fella,” said Mrs Savage. “We had many happy holidays in that trailer tent.

“He also had a wicked sense of humour and used to do his own home brewing,” said Mrs Savage, who recalled how the potent drink led to a neighbour missing Christmas dinner as he fell asleep in his bathroom and couldn’t be roused by his family.

Deafness in later years meant Mr Holcroft needed hearing aids, but he did not tell his family when he collected them so they did not know he could hear them.

“He said he enjoyed the peace,” said Mrs Savage.

Mr Holcroft’s funeral will be at 2pm on November 20 at Bury Cemetery. It will be followed by a wake at Fishpool Liberal Club where Mr Holcroft was a member for many years.