Tributes to veteran of White Rose Society

A PASSIONATE founder member of the Saddleworth White Rose Society has died following a long illness.

Uppermill’s Roy Bardsley, who later became the society’s secretary, died on Monday.

Current society chairman Geoff Bayley said: “He was a very dedicated man, very friendly and very knowledgeable in many spheres.”

Born in Derby in 1937, Mr Bardsley moved with his parents to Saddleworth as a child and attended Saddleworth Secondary School.

In the Army his interest in Yorkshire grew through an interest in the history of the county’s regiments.

Following local government reorganisation in 1974, Mr Bardsley considered Saddleworth had been given a raw deal by linking it to the new Oldham Metropolitan Borough, and campaigned for years to preserve and promote the history, culture and identity of the area within the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Mr Bardsley leaves his wife, Elizabeth, two sons, Chris and David, and grandchildren.