The daughter of a  “much-loved” Prestwich man who ran a cycling business for more than 50 years has paid a beautiful tribute to her father.

Peter Fletcher, 89, died on Friday, July 19 after spending most of his life in the town and was well-known in the community.

He attended Heys Road Boys School before beginning his career as an assistant in a bike shop on Bury New Road, which he went on to own and rebranded as Peter Fletcher Cycles.

READ MORE: Comedian Paddy McGuinness will be in Bury this month ahead of tour

His daughter Jane Michel said: “My dad always had a love of bikes. He got the opportunity to take over the shop when he was quite young and he lived for it all.

“He regularly took part in bike trips through the Buxton hills and used to race a lot. He was very passionate about it and made lots of friends.

“It was something that really touched his heart and he only stopped riding when he was in his early 80s and broke his hip after falling off his bike.”

Peter was a keen cyclist and had his business for more than 50 yearsPeter was a keen cyclist and had his business for more than 50 years (Image: supplied)

Peter married his late wife Anne (nee Atherton) at St Marys Church in Prestwich in 1960. 

The couple went on to have two daughters, Gill and Jane, and three grandsons.

They raised their daughters in Whitefield and stayed in the area once their children had grown up, with Peter diversifying the shop to offer wholesale and franchise opportunities.

READ MORE: Popular bar and restaurant throws a party for its customers for 6 special reasons

Jane added: “He successfully expanded the shop and then the business but never let it lose its heart. His customers remained loyal and trusted him. He really was in his element there.

Peter also enjoyed many other hobbies such as fishing, golf and snooker and would “watch pretty much any sporting event he could on TV".

Peter Fletcher was well-known in the community Peter was well-known in the community (Image: supplied)

Jane recalled when her dad caught the largest trout in England in August 2107 and was “particularly proud of that one."

She said: “He was brought up in the war and was very much a part of that generation. 

“He was always kind and thoughtful. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and people liked him.”

READ MORE: Tributes to much loved firefighter who has died aged just 44

Anne died in 2020 and Peter moved to Macclesfield two years later to live near his daughter, Jane.

After sharing the news of Peter’s death on social media, the family received an outpouring of comments from others sharing memories of Peter, with many calling him a “legend” and sharing stories of how he sold them their first bikes.

Peter’s funeral took place at St Mary’s Church on August 21 with donations made to charities Blind Veterans Society and British Heart Foundation.