A tribute has been paid to a man who lived in Hale who died from pneumonia after his central heating system failed due to a burst pipe.

Bernard Davies, a resident of Fernlea, Hale, died at Wythenshawe Hospital on Christmas Day, 10 days after the burst pipe incident happened.

Bernard had lived in Hale since 1969 and served as a NatWest bank manager in Wilmslow for 53 years before retiring.

He was a World War II veteran who served in the Royal Air Force in India, however, due to his colour blindness, he was unable to actually fly planes.

On December 15, Bernard, who was visually impaired, hard of hearing and had mobility problems, suffered severe hypothermia when his central heating system failed due to a burst pipe on a cold night.

He did not regain consciousness and passed away with pneumonia in hospital on Christmas Day.

Bernard was known for his work with the Rotary Club of Wilmslow and District, where he served as president and treasurer, and, before that, at Rotary Wythenshawe.

His funeral was held at St Bartholomew’s Church in Wilmslow, followed by his committal in the Macclesfield Crematorium and a reception in The Deanwater Hotel in Woodford.

The funeral was attended by his family and friends from across the UK and Canada, as well as a large number of Rotarians, the chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, a delegation from the Altrincham Probus Club of which he had been made an honorary member, and more.

Marianne Martyn, treasurer of Rotary Club of Wilmslow and District, said Bernard was "was one of a kind and will be missed by those whose lives he touched".

The chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, Cllr Frank McCarthy, paid tribute to Bernard at this funeral service for all the good work he had done quietly in the community during his 53 years as active Rotarian from 1969 until July 2022 when he was made an honorary Rotarian.

Bernard is survived by his 106-year-old sister Cecily and his three grandchildren, having lost his wife and both his daughters.