A FORMER Radcliffe man has died while working in Africa.

Mr Gordon Slingsby, known as Torchy, previously of Unsworth Street, died suddenly while working on an engineering contract in Mali on Saturday, April 10.

Mr Slingsby (56), studied at Radcliffe Technical College for his engineering apprenticeship with Mather and Platt, at Bradley Fold.

The father-of-two was married to Helen, who also worked at Mather's, and the couple emigrated to South Africa in the early seventies. They have two daughters, Stacey and Michelle, and four grandchildren.

Mr Slingsby's body will be flown home to South Africa for cremation, and a memorial service will hopefully be held in Radcliffe on the same day as the funeral so that friends and family in the UK can pay their last respects.

For details of the arrangements please telephone Eileen Slingsby on 0161 723 2944.