BROADCASTER and canals expert Jack Hunter has died, aged 81, after a long illness.

Mr Hunter, who lived at Haydock Nursing Home in Blackburn, died on Wednesday.

He received the MBE in 1975 for more than 40 years' service to the British Waterways Board.

He joined the board in 1932 as a clerk at 14 and later became depot superintendent at Church, living for more than 30 years in a cottage on the canal bank at Eanam. Blackburn-born Jack also worked as a broadcaster for Radio Blackburn and interviewed local personalities.

He was involved with Radio Hospital Blackburn where he served as chairman and gave commentaries on football and cricket matches for patients. His wife Dorothy, who was also a disc jockey with hospital radio, died two years ago.

Jack was a keen footballer in his younger days and played for the Blackburn Technical College team and was once on Burnley FC's books.

His father, also called Jack, used to play for Blackburn Rovers and his grandfather played for Blackburn Olympic. His funeral will beat Blackburn Crematorium at noon on Friday.

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