IT'S goodbye to Bury for the borough's director of leisure services.

Dr Graham Nicholson is off for two years to work with Marketing Manchester - motto "We're up and going!" - as new director of corporate resources.

While he has has only been seconded to the job, it seems unlikely he will return to Bury.

A huge restructure of Bury Council has split up his department, hiving off sectors to other areas.

Dr Nicholson (49) is now in charge of securing European funding and marketing long-term projects for the region.

Educated at Manchester Grammar School and Cambridge University, Dr Nicholson is a former head of cultural services with Stockport Council.

He joined Bury in 1990 and, as director, he spearheaded a range of projects including the East Lancs Railway, the Burrs outdoor activity centre, and the multi-million pound Irwell Sculpture Trail.

He is a director of the Cornerhouse arts centre and has been adviser to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities grants committee. Married with three children, Dr Nicholson lives in West Didsbury.

Dr Nicholson said Bury's budget problems had severely constrained new leisure schemes.

"Marketing Manchester wanted somebody with experience of working with districts outside the city centre, and who knew the mechanisms of AGMA," he said.

"I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to work for things I feel strongly about, the quality of life in the region for its arts, sports and environment. It's something I'm going to enjoy.

"I'm sorry to be leaving Bury, although I'll still be working on its behalf and will continue to take a keen interest in what's going on."

Any chance of him returning to Bury would depend on the circumstances, he said.

Coun David Willis, chairman of leisure services, said he was sad to see Dr Nicholson go.

"I've worked with him for four years, and always found him one of our ideas men, always looking at new things.

"It's a shame he's going, but it's a role he will enjoy and use his talents to the full to make a great job of it."

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