FAMILY and friends are saying their last goodbyes to George James Duckworth, loving family man, skilled engineer and former caretaker at Lower Darwen Primary School who has died at the age of 81.

Mr Duckworth, of Rishton, formerly Lower Darwen and known as Jim, was a loving husband to the late Jean and a devoted father to Andrew and Jeanette and father-in-law to Maureen and Chris.

As well as being a brother, brother-in-law, uncle and cousin, Mr Duckworth especially thrilled to become a grandfather and was a hero to the whole family.

A generous and sociable man by nature, Mr Duckworth loved comedy, music, particularly brass bands and folk music and meeting his friends at the local pub.

Amongst friends he was renowned for his love of gadgetry and was an avid star gazer, self-taught photo-shopper, and Bonsai Tree collector.

Technical skill was key to Mr Duckworth’s working life where, as an accomplished engineer, he worked for ICI for ten years and as caretaker and school janitor at Lower Darwen Primary School, a job he loved and from which former pupils will always carry fond memories.

Mr Duckworth’s family are accepting donations in his memory to East Lancashire Hospice at: https://www.memorygiving.com/georgejamesduckworth.