The Fusilier Museum in Bury has renamed its Lancashire Fusilier gallery in tribute to a borough legend who died this year.

Colonel Eric Davidson MBE DL was a long-term trustee, supporter and friend of the museum.

He died in May following a brave battle with cancer.

Colonel Eric was a time-honoured trustee at the museum and helped to raise the funds needed to move the museum from its former home at Wellington Barracks to its current town centre location on Moss Street.

During his time as a trustee, Eric was involved with several regimental activities over the years, including organising the annual Gallipoli and Minden commemorations in the town.

He also founded the Band and Corps of Drums of the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1997 and became their president.

He continued in this role until his death.

In June 2008, Colonel Eric was made an MBE and an Honorary Freeman of Bury in 2015 on his return from Turkey, where he had been with the civic party to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Fusiliers’ landing at Gallipoli.

The Lancashire Fusilier gallery will know be known as the Eric Davidson gallery in his honour.

Colonel Brian Gorski, chairman of The Fusilier Museum, said: “Colonel Eric has been a key supporter and trustee of the Fusilier Museum for the last 25 years.

“We owe so much to him for his continued support, guidance and friendship throughout this time and he has undoubtedly played a fundamental role in our success.

“We wanted to do something to honour his contribution and create a lasting legacy for many years to come so renaming the LF gallery after him was the obvious thing to do.”

Colonel Eric’s granddaughter, Natalie Davidson, added: “The Davidson family are extremely proud and humbled by the renaming of the gallery.

“We feel it’s a lovely fitting tribute to show appreciation for all the hard work he did and that it will be a lasting memory for all the family, friends and visitors to see and reflect on for many years to come.”