A MEMORIAL will be held to honour a former Bolton School pupil who went on to become an influential law scholar.

Professor Graham Battersby was born in Heaton in 1937 and would go on to study at University College Oxford before spending more than 30 years as a lecturer at Sheffield University.

The 81-year-old died in January following a long battle with prostate cancer after years of inspiring thousands of pupils.

On Tuesday June 18, members of the Lincoln's Inn law court will gather in London to hold a memorial ceremony in honour of Prof Battersby's work.

His brother, Roy Battersby, praised the professor's "brilliant" work.

"He had a marvellous ability to shine light into dark corners - sometimes unfathomable legal corners - to the benefit of his students," he said.

“He was a brilliant scholar both at school and at university and he was a family man, married with two daughters.

“Music was also a very large part of his life, he was a singer, an organist and a pianist.”

Following his death, teachers at Sheffield University praised the impact Prof Battersby had on thousands of pupils.

David Townend was both a student and later a colleague of the well-loved teacher.

He said: “He was always supportive, with that careful, considered scholarship, ready to share his wisdom. I also remember him for his laughter and sense of fun. He carried his remarkable learning with a lightness that made him approachable and caring”.