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COMMUNITY CHIEF: Derek Patel, who has died

THE founder of Bolton Indian Cricket Club has died.

Derek Patel, aged 58, died in his sleep at home and relatives believe that Mr Patel - whose real name was Dhirajlal - may have suffered a heart attack.

The Kenyan-born family man lived in Deane Road with his wife of 35 years, Shilaben.

The couple had two sons, Rajesh, aged 35, and Shilesh, aged 28.

A successful businessman and florist, Mr Patel owned Derek's Florist, on Deane Road, Bolton, and had become a father figure among the town's Indian community.

Family and colleagues today paid tribute to a "dedicated husband and father".

His son, Rajesh, who lives at his parents' home with his wife, said: "Dad took great pleasure in watching people better themselves and achieve.

"They went to him for advice or help. He was a pillar of the Indian community, through his work with sport and with young people.

"He was a dedicated husband and father. He was very hands-on and took pleasure in watching his projects develop."

Mr Patel left Kenya as a teenager, to live in India with family. He was sent to Bolton by his parents, aged 15, to live with family friends.

He was a keen hockey and cricket player and helped to establish the cricket club, on Hacken Lane - which is now known as the Bolton Indians Sports Club - in 1962.

In 2006 he achieved funding to build a sports hall at the site. He also worked to transform a hall, on Holden Street, into the Veda Mandir Hindu temple, in the late 1970s.

Bolton Indians Sports Club treasurer, Pravin Morar, knew Mr Patel for more than 40 years.

He said: "He will be sadly missed by everyone involved with the club. He did a lot for us and worked hard to develop the club into what it is today."

Mr Patel's funeral will take place tomorrow, at Overdale East Chapel, at 10.15am. The funeral procession will leave the family home at 7.45am and will stop at the cricket ground before proceeding to the crematorium.

10:52am Wednesday 10th January 2007

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