Ex-environmental health director dies

DENNIS ECKERSLEY

A MAN who spent 34 years helping make Oldham a cleaner and safer place to live, has died in hospital — the day after his 89th birthday.

Dennis Eckersley, who was Oldham’s Environmental Health Director until he retired in 1983, lived in Thornham, Rochdale.

Twice widowed, he leaves a brother and two nieces and a stepfamily in New Zealand.

During his more than three decades working for the council his proudest achievements included helping make the town smoke-free and clearing acres of slum housing.

A former chairman of Oldham St John Ambulance Association, he was invested as an Officer of the Order of St John in 1989.

His funeral will take place at Oldham Crematorium on January 9.