Farewell Harry, a man of the people

THE funeral cortege of First Choice Homes chairman Harry Burns passes the organisation’s new building in Union Street

MOURNERS applauded as Harry Burns’s funeral cortege passed by the new offices of First Choice Homes yesterday.

Colleagues gathered in Union Street, in front of the building, to pay their last respects to FCHO chairman Mr Burns, who died last week.

His funeral was led at Oldham Parish Church by Canon John Sykes, and as one of Mr Burns’s final requests the funeral cortege passed the still-under-construction offices en route to the crematorium.

The funeral was attended by almost 200 people, including Oldham Council chief executive Carolyn Wilkins, scores of FCHO staff led by chief executive Cath Green, and former chief Hugh Broadbent.

Mr Burns — first recipient of Oldham Council’s civil appreciation honour in 2012 — dedicated more than three decades to improving the lives of housing tenants.

He leaves his wife of more than 50 years, Louise, and two grown-up daughters.