PRESTON entrepreneur and businessman, William 'Bill' Harrison, has died.

Bill, who lived in Walker Lane, Fulwood, was chairman of Ribby Hall Holiday Village.

He died of a heart attack in Alexandra Hospital, Manchester, on Tuesday, while convalescing following an operation. He was 77.

Fylde's Dowbridge housing development, Marton Mere Caravan Park, Kirkham's Kirkgate Shopping and Conference Centre, Progress Mill business park and Wrea Green's Ribby Hall Leisure Park are among his most prominent achievements in a building career spanning 43 years.

He also had links in the highest echelons of the Conservative Party, hosting ministerial visits including former premier Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. Ribby Hall Leisure Park, which he acquired five years ago and ran in partnership with his son Paul, was his latest proud achievement, transforming it into an award-winning holiday village employing 250 people.

Kirkham councillor Peter Sowden said: "We'll all miss him. He had a lot of vision, he was a businessman and he was making his living at it but he didn't put profit first all the time.

"He gave consideration to the effect of what he was doing on other people and the surroundings, we've a lot to be grateful to him for."

Fellow councillor John Bennett said: "Bill did a lot for Kirkham, he was magnanimous in his gifts for the town and he provided a lot of employment - we're all very sad."

Mr Harrison was a 40-year member of Kirkham and Fylde Rotary Club and gave lavishly to charities.

As a tribute, his family - wife Glen, daughters Janet and Sylvia, son Paul and nine grandchildren - are carrying on with his plan to open their gardens at Greyfriars, Walker Lane, Fulwood, to the public this Sunday (2-5pm) in aid of charity under the National Gardens Scheme.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.