A FORMER cabinet maker from Radcliffe has died, the day after his 100th birthday.

Widower Mr Matt Greenhalgh, of York Street, lived most of his life in Radcliffe, and was a good friend to many people in the area. He died on Monday at Fairfield Hospital where he was admitted after a fall several weeks ago.

Mrs Dorothy Lavallee, a former neighbour of Mr Greenhalgh who now lives in Ontario, Canada, fondly remembered her "Uncle Matt", who was a lifelong-friend of her parents, Bert and Kit Mills.

She said: "Uncle Matt was a very good lawn bowler in his time.

" I remember going to watch him as a young girl.

"He also used to do decorating for people, and the one time my father could not wait for Matt to come to do our front room, he went ahead and did it himself.

"When Uncle Matt came to see what my father had done, he made only one comment - at least its clean Bert!

"Since then, when the occasion arises, we say "at least its clean" using the same Lancashire accent."

Mr Greenhalgh was married for more than 60 years to Betty and they had a daughter, Margaret, who died in 1966.

Mrs Lavallee added: "I feel so sad my Uncle Matt won't be in my life any more. He was the sweetest man, but for him I guess it is the best thing that he will not have to suffer any more."

The funeral will be held on Monday at Overdale Crematorium, Bolton. Flowers to be sent to Silletts, Radcliffe.