A DARWEN exile who helped to set up Crown Paint factories in Africa has died aged 80.

John Yeadon left the town in 1960 to go on his travels, but was well-remembered for his singing in local clubs.

He worked his way up from the bottom at Crown Paints - now Akzo Nobel - in Darwen and ended up as general manager of a factory in Keighley.

Before reaching the top, he had worked in Kenya and Uganda to set up Crown Paint factories and help train the locals.

He returned to England in 1970 and retired in 1984.

Mr Yeadon married Dorothy just before heading to Africa.

The couple had a now grown-up boy and girl who have provided them with two grandsons.

Mr and Mrs Yeadon had moved to Winterton near Scunthorpe to be near their daughter and grandchildren.

In his retirement, Mr Yeadon had continued singing with four friends doing shows in old people's homes.

He was also captain of a snooker club, chairman of a residents' association and road safety group.

Mr Yeadon died after being ill for sometime with lung cancer.