Tributes to 'fun loving' Blackburn man who died in Thailand (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Tributes to 'fun loving' Blackburn man who died in Thailand

2:32pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News By Jessica Cree, Education reporter

A SISTER has paid tribute to her ‘fun loving’ brother who died after suffering a suspected stroke in Thailand.

Chris Bolton, 56, who is originally from Blackburn, had moved to the town of Buri Ram, the capital of the Buriram province in the north east of the country, three years ago, after having spent more than 20 years living in Australia.

The former worker at Simonstone’s Mullard Factory, who had lived in Patterdale Avenue, Shadsworth, was described by sister Debbie, 49, as a ‘proud’ family man who loved Northern Soul.

She said: “He was a big party animal and lived his life to the full.

“He did not die wondering.

“He was so proud of his family, nobody was more proud of his two sons than him.

“When he was younger, he used to like playing snooker and used to go and watch Blackburn Rovers .”

Chris married in Australia and had two sons Sean, 18, and Troy, 20. Three years ago, he went on holiday to Thailand, where he met his new girlfriend, Wai, 42, in a supermarket. He emigrated again and had started building a house and pig farming in his spare time.

Chris’ sister, who lives in Aspen Lane, Oswaldtwistle, said Chris had been found collapsed on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night.

But when paramedics arrived, they were unable to do anything for him.

Debbie said: “Chris’ funeral was held in Thailand. They wanted to hold it as soon as poss-ible “Apparently it was a beautiful ceremony and Chris’ sons were blessed by Buddhist monks.

“There was a procession through the streets and it was quite a fitting celebration of his life.”