A RESPECTED doctor who later decided to train for the priesthood has died aged 91.

Father Michael Fasnacht, who lived in Astley Bridge for much of his life, died peacefully at Nazareth House in Prestwich on September 28.

He was a GP in Bolton for a number of years before announcing that he wanted to become a priest.

Father Michael later became the parish priest at The Holy Infant and St Anthony, Astley Bridge, where his funeral was held last week.

Born to Harold and Helen Fasnacht in Eccles in 1924, he was the eldest of four children with Anthony, Denis and Marieanne following him.

He was talented and academically minded as a youngster, excelling in the classics including Greek and Latin, and showing a deep interest in other cultures.

He became fluent in French and Italian, and the passion for languages did not leave him as his began studying Mandarin in his eighties.

Father Michael attended St Bede’s College in Manchester and was offered a place to study medicine at Manchester University, graduating in 1948, the year the National Health Service began.

After completing his degree he enlisted for national service, and was commissioned as a Captain in the Royal Medical Corp, being posted to post-war Egypt where the heat and lack of facilities created challenging conditions to work in.

While he was in Egypt, he undertook further studies in the treatment of tropical diseases.

On returning home, he practised in a number of hospitals before eventually going into partnership with Dr Bill Simmonds in Bolton.

It was in 1970 when he decided to train for the priesthood, and was accepted as an ecclesiastical student for the Diocese of Salford.

He was ordained in April 1974, and was an assistant priest at St Augustine’s in Manchester and in 1980 became the chaplain for North Manchester General Hospital.

In 1990 Father Michael retired from the hospital chaplaincy and took up residence in his home parish in Astley Bridge.

He continued to assist in the parish and managed to continue celebrating Mass on a regular basis.

His funeral was well attended and mourners included members of the clergy, parishioners and old patients.

His niece, Judith Grassi, said: "I don't know why he decided to train for the priesthood in particular, but I think that the more he dealt with people, the more the emotional side of his job had an affect on him.

"There was a calmness about him. It is so over used, but he was a compassionate person. He didn't judge people, and he had a great sense of humour."