ONE of Bolton Lions’ longest-serving and best-known members has died at the age of 82.

Babu Roye joined the famous service charity in 1986 and had been a key worker in the Lions’ annual toy appeal and in the radio service it runs at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Mr Roye was born in India and lived in Kenya before moving to England to make his home in Bolton. After he joined the Lions’ Club, explained fellow member John Fairhurst, he was eager to “to take a full part in all of the Club’s activities.”

He played a major role in the toy appeal including hand-writing all the labels, calling at retail collection points and transporting toys for sorting. “All the toys that had moving parts had to be tested by Babu,” added Mr Fairhurst. “Any faults were rectified and all toys requiring batteries had new batteries.”

Mr Roye was also heavily involved in the hospital radio service, going around the hospital wards each Friday night to collect requests before finding the records and CDs from the Lions’ music library. Wherever he went, he exhibited the polite, friendly and respectful manner that won him so many friends.

“It was not just the toy appeal and hospital radio, though,” stated Mr Fairhurst.

“For 35 years, Babu contributed to everything the club did, being the first to volunteer for anything that would benefit our community.

“Babu was a well-respected, wonderful man with a dedication to helping others.

“He was kind and caring and will be greatly missed as a Lion and as a man.

“His passing is a great loss to Bolton Lions Club and to the town of Bolton.”

Mr Roye is survived by his wife, Bena, and daughter Nisha Roye Patel, son in law Sandip, grand-daughter, Avni, aged six, and three year-old grandson, Rian.

Donations in his memory can be made to Bolton Lions at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/babu-roye-2020