A FOUNDING member of a long-standing community group has died.

Ken Lees, who set up what is now known as the Rossendale Civic Trust, died three weeks short of his 90th birthday after suffering from lung cancer.

The group was established as the Rawtenstall Civic Trust which later merged with a group in Haslingden.

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Mr Lees’ main focus over his 42 years with the organisation was the upkeep of Weavers Cottage, which was rescued from demolition by the committee.

Chairman Kathy Fishwick said Mr Lees, who was from Bury, could even be found painting the railing at the cottage well into his 80s.

She said: “He was very involved with the upkeep of the cottage, staffing on Sunday afternoons and often could be found with a paintbrush in hand.

“But I think most of all he was just a rock solid, dedicated member who you could always call upon for anything.

“His experience meant a lot to the trust. He made many friends in different walks of life and deserves to be well remembered.”

Mr Lee leaves his nephew Andrew Lees and his wife Lillian as well as his great niece Nicola Halliday.

Outside the trust, he rode motorbikes and had a lot of success in the 1950s in the Welsh Six Day Trials as an amateur amid strong international competition.

He later turned his attention to car rallying and made many friends in East Lancashire by running and rallying Jowett cars.

He also became director of a family car sales business Auty and Lees.

In the 1970s, he opened a string of hairdresser shops in Burnley and Rossendale and also had love of amateur operatics.

His nephew Mr Lees said: “He fought bravely through his illness after being given between three and ten months to live.

“From being involved in the trust to having a passion for high-performance cars you could safely say he was a man of many talents.”

His funeral will take place today at 3.30pm in Radcliffe.