TRIBUTES have been paid to an amateur light opera singer who died suddenly at his Oswaldtwistle home.

Former Accrington Grammar School pupil Fred Tregartha, 78, trained as an industrial chemist before national service with the RAF took him to East Anglia where he met his late wife, Gwen.

And his skills as a wireless operator provided him with a wealth of knowledge for running his television and radio shop, Borough Electrics when he returned to Accrington.

Fred went on to work as a laboratory technician at the Accrington College, Sandy Lane, for 13 years before studying to become a teacher at the Chorley Teacher Training College. He later taught in the Science Department at Turton High School.

Fred, a bass baritone, performed with Accrington Singers. He was also a member with the Accrington and Christ Church amateur light opera societies and Blackburn Gilbert and Sullivan Society. He had parts in the Mikado, as Wilfred Shadbolt in Yeoman of the Guard and the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe.

Fred and Gwen had four children: Don, Judith, Richard and Freda.

Don said: "He was a man of many interests and kept active throughout retirement, although loss of hearing meant the sad loss of his music.

"However the resurgence of his beloved football team, Accrington Stanley, gave him an all consuming interest. He travelled the country in support of his team and would often be spotted behind the opposition dug out offer-ing the manager some words of advice'."

Fred was a member of the Freemasons at Leopold Lodge, Oswaldtwistle, and was invested Worshipful Master for the second time as they celebrated their 125th Anniversary in 2003.

He supported Gwen's work with the Local Family History Society until her death in December 2001. His work building the database of the Tregartha family back to the early 1600s ignited an interest in the internet. This led him to meet his fiancée Doreen in 2005.