FRIENDS of Blackburn's oldest Rotarian are considering a lasting tribute to his memory.

Fred Green, whose funeral service is this Tuesday, was a member of the Blackburn Rotary Club for more than 61 years, holding virtually every post in the organisation.

He was a former president and was thought to be the oldest person in the rotary movement to hold the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship and still active in his club.

Current secretary Dorothy Bradbury said 94-year-old Fred, who lived at Kemp Court, Whalley New Road, in Blackburn, was highly regarded and should be remembered. She said: "He held several positions in the club and is a past district governor for the whole of the north west.

"We are thinking about some kind of memorial for Fred. Perhaps a permanent feature or an annual presentation.

"He joined in 1940 and was very active in the club right until his death on Monday. He was highly thought of and will be missed."

Mr Green, a former mayor for the Ribble Valley, was a well-known and well-loved figure in East Lancashire.

He was a long-serving chairman of Blackburn Magistrates' Bench and general manager of the Blackburn Times and Clitheroe Advertiser and Times for 36 years.

He was also a captain and president of Wilpshire Golf Club. But he was perhaps best known for his work at Blackburn Cathedral, which he attended regularly from the age of six right up until his death and was a choir member, a church warden and a member of the Cathedral.

The Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev David Frayne, said: "During this time he has contributed a whole wealth of knowledge and experience to support the Cathedral in a great variety of ways."

After his retirement from the newspaper business in 1973 Mr Green became a member of Ribble Valley Borough Council and Mayor in 1976/7. Mr Green leaves his widow, Dorothy, 91 and daughter Valerie, 61. A funeral service will be held at Blackburn Cathedral on Tuesday, September 4 at 1.30pm.