THE business community of East Lancashire is mourning the loss of one of its champions.

James Bryan Ashworth MBE, known as Bryan, died last week after collapsing at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris while on a European business trip. He was 73.

Bryan, of Colne, was chairman and managing director of Ascotex Ltd, a privately-owned engineering business in Simonstone. But it is his support of UK and East Lancashire business by which he will be best remembered.

He was the first president of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, after the merger of the Blackburn and Burnley Chambers in 1990 and this was one of many positions held in the business support arena.

Among his other achievements, Bryan was a founder member of the Burnley Export Group, the oldest Export Club in the UK and was president of Burnley Chamber of Commerce from 1971-1973.

Subsequently, he was chairman of the North West Chambers of Commerce and a board member of the British Chambers of Commerce.

On a broader scale, Bryan was a member of the DTI's Industrial Development Board and its British Overseas Trade Board Small Firms Committee.

He also served on various advisory committees and governing bodies in education and local affairs including Inward, the agency for investment into North West England and its predecessor, Norwida.

Fluent in five European languages, Bryan was awarded an MBE for services to export in 1983.

His son, Andrew, also a director of Ascotex, described his father as being the central part of the business. "He established it and built it up to a multi-national company, exporting 80 per cent of its turnover, which would not have been possible without his dedication," he said.

"Despite his age, he was the be-all and end-all of the company, whizzing around the world trying to drum up business."

Saj Butt, current president of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Bryan was a great servant and ambassador for business in this area and beyond. He was also a fine businessman and a gentleman. He will be sadly missed."

Bryan MBE leaves a wife and two children.