THE funeral of Bury Hospice chairman Colin Caffrey, who died suddenly last week, will be held on Friday (Feb 8).

Mourners are expected to pack Guardian Angels RC Church in the town for the Requiem Mass service, which will begin at 10.30am.

This will be followed by committal at Blackley Crematorium.

The reception of the coffin into the church will take place the previous evening, Thursday, at 7pm.

Mr Caffrey (64), who was well known throughout the borough, died from a suspected heart attack last Wednesday (Jan 30).

He collapsed while travelling home by train from London after attending a Hospice movement meeting.

The Bury Hospice chairman, who lived in Watling Street, Bury, leaves a wife and a son and daughter.

His sudden death has shocked family and friends. Awarded the MBE in 1994 in recognition of his health service work, Mr Caffrey had been appointed Bury Hospice chairman in 1983.

Since then, he had been a tireless worker for the Hospice and had played a vital role in its development, opening and operation.

Mourners are advised that there will be family flowers only, as Mr Caffrey would have wished. Donations to Bury Hospice should be made through Silletts Funeral Service, Spring Lane, Radcliffe.