ONE of Bury's founding fathers of adult education and artistic excellence has died.

Mr Alan Childs was at the forefront of what might now be called lifelong learning during what his students call a "golden era" between 1948 and 1974.

He died of lung cancer aged 83, shortly after going into Bealey Hospital. His funeral was held on Wednesday (May 8) at Overdale Crematorium. He leaves a wife and five children.

Originally from Barrow-in-Furness, Mr Childs enrolled at Liverpool College of Art until the Second World War broke out. He served with the Army in North Africa, but was captured by Rommel's forces and saw out the war in a prison camp.

He married Diana (usually called Tom), an artist's daughter, and he was employed as an art teacher. In 1949 he was appointed vice-principal of the Bury School of Arts and Crafts, where he taught lithography, drawing and painting, clay modelling and history of art. He was also a skilled paper sculptor, and filled local shop windows with his work.

Mr Childs became principal in 1959 and went 'all out' for adult, non-vocational education. The number of students increased and, by the mid-Sixties, annexes had to be found to cope with demand.

His ideas won widespread acceptance and he was asked to speak around the country, and he was integral in the development of adult literacy schemes and initiatives such as English as a Second Language.

He was the driving force behind the establishment of Bury Metropolitan Arts Association, based at the Derby Hall, and became its chairman.

Mr Dewi Lewis, the first director of BMAA in 1975, described Mr Childs as "a wonderfully warm" person. He added: "Working with Alan was an absolute joy. His knowledge, his vision, his ability to enthuse and empower others, his deep sensitivity, all these made him an ideal and influential mentor for me at that early stage in my career."

Mr Harold Williams, Bury's chief education officer, said: "Alan Childs was widely admired for his professional approach and very much loved for his own qualities and his commitment to the cause of education in the Arts and Crafts Centre."