A FORMER Leigh man who died in the South is to be brought home for burial at Leigh Cemetery.

The ashes of bachelor Fred Bawden, 76, who died on March 11 following a stroke will be interred in the family grave.

A graveside service will be conducted by the Vicar of Pennington, the Rev Peter Leakey, at 11am on March 31.

Fred, one of seven children brought up on the Pennington council estate who all went to Pennington CE School, was also a pupil at Manchester Road Secondary School.

He went on to serve in the Seaforth Highlanders before moving away from the area.

The arrangements for the service have been made by Fred's sister, Mary, who married a GI in 1947 and now lives near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Now aged 80, Mary said: "There are relatives still living in the Leigh and Astley areas who will be welcome at the service. I shall be happy when Fred is at rest but I shall miss him."

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