A 93-YEAR-OLD Burnley man who "lived and breathed magic" has passed away after being taken ill.

Maurice Howarth, who was the oldest member of the Modern Mystic League in Blackburn, was well-known across East Lancashire for his magic tricks and was good friends with famous magicians such as Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee.

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Mr Howarth’s close friend, Gabrielle Coates, said he was taken ill a few months ago and ended up staying in Burnley’s Oaklands Nursing Home, where he died.

His good friend and fellow magician Anne Walmsley, otherwise known as Magik-Ann, said he was always there to offer advice on magic tricks and always had an answer to any problems she was having.

She said: “He was just a lovely man, the most gentle and helpful person you could ever wish to meet.

“I went round many times to his house when I wasn’t happy with the outcome of a magic trick and he would always have an answer, he just lived and breathed magic.

“As he got older I used to pick him up and take him to places. He always had time for everybody and he will be sorely missed.”

Maurice, who was married to the late Mona Howarth but had no children, started his career working as a chief draftsman for Prestige Group in Colne and there he met Mrs Coates when she was 19.

Mrs Coates said she was always impressed by the wide variety of tricks he would perform and he never went anywhere without a pack of cards to show off with.

She said: “He always had so many tricks up his sleeve, making things disappear and doing things with cards.

“You could be sitting right next to him and he would ask you to write your name on a card and then he would tear it up then suddenly produce another card that had your name on it in tact.

“He was a kind and gentle man who never said anything nasty about anyone and he was so well respected by magicians."

“He always told me said good morning to Mona everyday as well even though she had gone. He really loved her and she was so beautiful, they were a cracking couple.”

Mr Howarth’s funeral will take place at St James’ Church in Briercliffe at 10.15am today, followed by a service at Burnley Crematorium at 11.20am.

Everyone is welcome to bring flowers or British Heart Foundation donations welcome.