A CORN merchant who oversaw the expansion of his family firm into a leading Ribble Valley business has died, aged 79.

George Wallbank Dugdale was born in Waddington and attended Clitheroe Royal Grammar School - leaving at 16 to join the family business at Waterloo Corn Mill.

During the war he served in the Royal Army Service Corps and was in France before being evacuated from Dunkirk.

He rejoined the family firm after marrying Florence Robinson in 1941 and was responsible for the distribution of feeds.

When the decision was taken to produce own-name brands, George undertook the planning and installation of the new plant and was joined by his son Stephen in 1959.

He then assumed the chairmanship of B Dugdale and Son and was at the helm when the firm's new mill was built at Bellman.

Florence died shortly after he retired in 1983 and in 1995 he married Marie Curie Cancer Care fund-raiser Margaret Romaine, of Whalley.

He was a member of Clitheroe Golf Club for 50 years and the Rotary Club of Clitheroe for 45.

He also served on the parochial church council and was a church warden at All Hallows' Church in Mitton.

Latterly he supported Marie Curie Cancer Care and raised considerable funds for the organisation.

He is survived by his son, daughter-in-law Susan and grandchildren Matthew and Helen.

His funeral will be held at All Hallows' Church in Mitton tomorrow at 1pm followed by cremation at Accrington Crematorium.

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