Community group members have come together to create a fitting memorial in tribute to a volunteer who was known as a "nice man".

Ian Holt, who died aged 72 shortly before Christmas after suffering with cancer, was a valued member of Radcliffe Rotary Club and Radcliffe Litter Pickers.

Group members and friends gathered at Festival Gardens in Radcliffe on Sunday, April 21 to remember Ian, and his widow Christine planted a magnolia tree in his memory.

Ian was also part of Radcliffe Rotary Club and took charge of cleaning up Festival Gardens by organising litter picks and tidying up the gardens.

Bury Times: Ian HoltIan Holt (Image: Supplied)

Bury Times: Ian's widow Christine planting a magnolia tree in his memoryIan's widow Christine planting a magnolia tree in his memory (Image: Les Stott)

A bench with a plaque, put in place by volunteer Colin Harrison, was installed in the gardens.

Christine created the words on the plaque.

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She said: “It would have been Ian’s 73rd birthday on Sunday when we did the memorial.

“I went to a garden centre and picked a magnolia tree, and Radcliffe Litter Pickers donated the money for it.”

Bury Times: Christine's daughter Gemma Troy, Ian's stepdaughter, and Christine on the memorial benchChristine's daughter Gemma Troy, Ian's stepdaughter, and Christine on the memorial bench (Image: Paul Bradshaw)

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Both Christine and Ian worked at East Lancashire Paper Mill for many years.

The gates of the paper mill are in the middle of the gardens where his memorial is.

Christine added: “The weather was beautiful, and we all had a lovely time remembering Ian, so it was very nice.”

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Bury Times: Volunteer Colin Harrison, who put the plaque on the bench, and Ian's widow Christine HoltVolunteer Colin Harrison, who put the plaque on the bench, and Ian's widow Christine Holt (Image: Paul Bradshaw)

Bury Times: The plaque which was fitted on the benchThe plaque which was fitted on the bench (Image: Paul Bradshaw)

Ian was a big figure in the community and got involved with many groups including doing tasks like cleaning the canal with Little Britain Anglers, looking after the barge on Water Street and tidying up another garden on Church Street.

Christine said: “Ian used to help an awful lot doing these things but mainly within Radcliffe Rotary.

“Our family are more than happy with it.

"It's somewhere that we can go and sit and remember him by, not that we’ll ever forget him.

“It’s just a nice tribute to a nice, nice man. It’s lovely.”