TRIBUTES have been paid to a Blackburn Master Butcher who has died at the age of 91.

Frank Kay has been described as a “lovely man” and a “true gentleman” by his daughter Jean Brown, following his death on August 15.

After leaving St Alban’s RC School at the age of 14, Frank took a series of jobs in butcher’s shops before being called up to the Army following the outbreak of the Second World War.

The dad-of-two, grandad-of-five and great grandad-of-six served in Cairo and Alexandria as a dispatch rider during his four years in the forces.

He met his wife, Hilda, who is now 92, when he returned home on leave for two weeks after winning the time off through a raffle!

They met at Tony’s Dance Hall in Blackburn and started courting after the war was over, marrying in 1948 at St Mary’s Church, Osbaldeston.

A year later Jean was born with her brother Rowland being born in 1950.

After getting his old job back after the War, Frank decided to set up his own business and worked as a taxi driver at nights and at the weekends to raise the money he needed.

He finally opened Kay’s Butcher’s in Scotland Road, Blackburn, which he ran for around 10 years.

Following the building’s compulsory purchase and demolition, Frank moved his business to Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, where he stayed until he retired in 1988 at the age of 65. The former secretary and president of the Blackburn Master Butchers retired with his wife to Somerset Grove in Church.

Frank’s daughter Jean said: “He was a lovely man and a true gentleman.

“He loved being with his whole family and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“My dad would always help people out, no matter how much trouble it was.

“He never swore and only got drunk once, while he was in the Army, and said that he would never do it again.

“I’m very proud of him and I loved him very much.

“My dad started to decline from Christmas and we had formed a very close bond over the last few months.”

The funeral took place yesterday at Accrington Crematorium.