TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘selfless and hardworking’ club steward and Neil Diamond act who died at his home aged 59.

Bill Clough, of Council Terrace, Darwen, had worked at Bridge Street Sports and Social Club since it was taken over by a committee in 2003.

Previously he was landlord of the Entwistle Pub in Entwistle Street, Darwen, and had been a steward at Accrington Stanley.

As well as performing in the club, every year he would sing Neil Diamond hits during the annual Darwen Live music festival.

Club secretary Kevin Smith said: “Nobody in Darwen had a bad word to say about him, and I can’t even think about replacing someone like that at the moment.

“He was appreciated by everyone and he treated everyone the same. We will also miss his versatility as a singer doing his Neil Diamond act under the name of Billy C. He was fantastic at that and will be greatly missed.”

Bill died in his armchair at home on Wednesday, April 13, Born in Melbourne, Australia to Liverpudlian parents, he was raised in the Anfield area before moving to Darwen in 1974 to be with wife Lynn.

Kevin Smith added: “He was a big supporter of Liverpool and on Tuesday, all the lads at the club were saying you couldn’t knock him down, he was chiming on about Liverpool FC after they beat Manchester City three nil.”

He leaves behind wife Lynn, 54, children Kevin, Gary and Neil, daughter-in-law Lisa, and grandchildren Ellie, Millie and Leah.

Son Kevin, 32, said: “He was a selfless family man. Only last week he went without a steak dinner so that everyone else could have one.

“He lived to make other people smile and he was a hardworker.”

The family have been told that Bill died when a muscle in his heart suddenly stopped. He had had a heart attack four years ago.

His funeral will be on Thursday at St Peters Church at 2pm followed by interment at Darwen Eastern Cemetery.