A HOLIDAY in Spain ended in tragedy for a Radcliffe family.

Mr Jeffrey Helliwell (61) suffered a fatal heart attackattack while on holiday in Spain.

The tragedy happened on Saturday evening when he returned to his hotel room after a meal to get changed for an evening stroll.

He was enjoying a week's holiday in Salou with his wife Jean (56), daughter Julie, her husband Stephen Leach, their two children Sarah (6) and Thomas (4), and Mr Leach's parents.

They returned home on Tuesday but paperwork has meant Mr Helliwell's body will be not be flown back until today (7th).

Mr Helliwell, of Bury Road, was a well-known face in the town. Between 1976 and 1989 he ran a sub post office in Cross Lane and before that he owned a hardware store on the same road. His community involvement brought him in contact with hundreds of townsfolk.

He was a volunteer for Radcliffe Citizens Advice Bureau and later became a member of the board. He was also involved with Radcliffe Rotary Club, a former president of Radcliffe Chamber of Trade and he did volunteer work for Bury Hospice.

He was a governor of Coney Green High School and served as the treasurer for the National Association of Governors.

A staunch member of Radcliffe United Reformed Church, he was a church elder and organist.

Such was his connection with the church that the family have requested donations should be made to its building fund, rather than flowers.

Mr Helliwell was also heavily involved with the church's amateur dramatic society and only recently sang in the musical Mr God This Is Anna, which was written by his daughter Julie and her husband.

He also leaves another daughter, Karen.

She said: "He was a very jovial man who was well-liked and loved."

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