Bowled over by millionaire’s gift

Ronnie Forbes

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Frank leaves antique to borough

AN antique silver rose bowl has been presented to Oldham Council following the death of a well-known business man and secret millionaire.

Frank Ainsworth was best known for running The Black Ladd pub, in Buckstones Road, with his long-term partner Ronnie Forbes.

Both originally from Blackburn, they also set up a series of businesses in Huddersfield Road before retiring to Wales 20 years ago.

Mr Ainsworth died in June, aged 78, in Cleveleys, where he moved after Mr Forbes died in 2003, aged 62.

In his will, Mr Ainsworth requested that a George V silver rose bowl, made in Birmingham in 1913 by Elkington and Co and valued at about £1,500, be presented to Oldham Council.

The generous businessman, who made his fortune in Oldham, also left £600,000 to three charities — Cancer Research UK, the RSPCA and the National Trust.

Paul Garside, from Lytham St Annes, was a long-standing friend of the couple and joint executor of Mr Ainsworth’s will.

He said Mr Ainsworth would have been proud to give the rose bowl to the council.

He said: “People would have known them simply as Frank and Ronnie, they were two larger-than-life characters.

“Frank originally worked as a mortician at the Royal Oldham Hospital when he was a young man, before starting up a house clearance business in Oldham with Ronnie in the early 1960s.

“They realised that some items they were coming across could be valuable so Ronnie went back to college to study antiques.”

The entrepreneurial pair sold antiques and general household items from shops in Huddersfield Road, but also owned a cafe inside Oldham’s indoor market and sold goods on a stall on the outdoor market.

Mr Garside said: “They became well known figures in the antiques trade and even appeared on the ‘Antiques Roadshow’ 10 years ago.

“After selling up their businesses, they bought the Black Ladd restaurant, where Frank worked as the chef.

“Diners would be eating their meals surrounded by Ming vases and a whole variety of antiques.

“But they also did a lot of charity work in Oldham, especially helping pensioners and the elderly.”

Mr Garside, who owns a construction company, was friends with Mr Ainsworth for 30 years.

He said: “He left a lot of bequests in his will and I can only assume he left the rose bowl because of his links with the town.

“He benefited greatly but also gave a lot back to the community.

“The Mayor and I were talking about possibly using the bowl for a future award.”