Friends say goodbye to hero grandfather

GENTLE giant . . . Fred Jones

TRIBUTES have been paid to a “gentle giant” and have-a-go hero who dedicated his life to helping improve his local community.

Former soldier Fred Jones (67) was a tenant board member at Villages Housing Association and an integral part of key groups including the Fitton Hill Estate Management Committee. He was also extremely well-respected within the local community.

Mr Jones hit the headlines in November 2000 when he gave two masked burglars armed with a gun more than they bargained for when they burst into his Fitton Hill home while he was watching TV.

He fought them off with a 3ft-long ornamental samurai sword and later told the Chronicle: “The sword is not very sharp but I had to do something.

“These two men had broken into my house and were threatening to shoot me.

“The one with a gun ran off and I just hit out at the other one, catching his arm with the sword.”

As a former member of the First King’s Regiment, Mr Jones travelled all over the North-West supporting the work of military veterans.

Known locally as a “gentle giant”, he was also very active within the Fitton Hill community, delighting children at the junior youth club and local schools in his role as Father Christmas.

Mr Jones died on April 25 and is survived by his five children and grandchildren.

His funeral took place yesterday at Oldham Crematorium.

Paul Carhart, managing director of Villages Housing Association, said: “Everyone at Villages is very sad to learn the news of Fred’s death.

“As a tenant board member, he made a really valuable contribution to Villages’ development.

“He was also a shining example of the positive impact that customers can have on our organisation. He will be greatly missed by the Villages board, staff and within the local community where he made a lot of friends over the years. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”