FAMILY and friends of building society boss Eddie Shapland today told how they were mystified by his tragic death.

Mr Shapland, 51, chief executive of the Nelson-based Marsden Building Society, was found hanged at his home in Burnley by his wife Janet and daughter Kay yesterday morning.

He left no note to give any clue to the reasons behind his death.

Speaking at the family home at a converted barn in Little Tom's Lane, Lanehead, Burnley, today Kay said: "We're still too upset to say anything at the moment. It's very sad."

She said there was no reason why her father should want to take his own life. "We can't understand it. We're still trying to take it all in."

And Marsden Building Society deputy chief executive Neil Shoesmith said there was no reason whatever for Mr Shapland to be worried over matters at the society.

He said results for 1997, to be issued soon, showed the Marsden had enjoyed an extremely good year and he was pleased to report the society was in very good shape.

"There was no reason at all for Mr Shapland to be concerned," he said.

Mr Shapland's cousin, Andrew Shapland, 43, of Halifax Road, Nelson, said: "He was a super guy. The family are very close and to my dad he was like another son." Andrew, who has his own accountancy business, added: "He helped me set up in business and wherever I went to see a client they asked me if I was related to him. People who knew him well and those who didn't always had a good word to say about him. He was a good mentor to me.

"I've no idea why this should have happened. It's a complete mystery to us all. He was the last person you would think of to do this. He used to love going down to watch Burnley play at Turf Moor on a Saturday and sit with the crowd. That was his way of relaxing from the day-to-day pressures of his job."

Mr Shoesmith said the Marsden Building Society had people in place to deal with Mr Shapland's duties.

A special board meeting would be held on Monday when decisions would be made about the future, he added.

Mr Shoesmith said there was great sadness among the 160 throughout Lancashire's largest building society.

"Eddie Shapland was a very kind, understanding human being, rightly loved and respected by all he dealt with.

"You cannot lose someone of that quality without very deep feelings of loss."

Mr Shoesmith said he personally felt his loss, not only for a colleague, but as a close and long-standing friend.

And he said the Marsden would continue to uphold Mr Shapland's strong belief in continued mutuality and independence for the society.

"That policy will continue. That is understood, respected and promoted by every member of the society," he added.

Lillian Hartley, who lives next door to the family at Little Tom's Farm, said: "He didn't mention any worries to us. He seemed to be fine. My husband used to bring the Sunday paper up to him every week. He saw him on Sunday and they had a chat and everything was all right.

"There was nothing wrong about him at all. He was certainly a gentleman in every way. You couldn't fault him at all.

"The family bought the barn from us about 12 years ago and converted it into their home and they have been perfect neighbours."

Funeral arrangements are being made by the family but no details were available. An inquest is due to be held next week.

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