Tributes have been paid following the death of an Accrington tailor who made suits for the stars.

For 37 years Giuseppe Alessi ran his shop on Derby Street, tailoring suits for celebrities including snooker world champion Dennis Taylor and footballer David Dunn.

The tailor, who retired in 2004, passed away on August 6 after a short illness at the age of 82.

Giuseppe started apprenticing as a tailor in Sicily at just 10 years old and by the time he was 18 he was making his own suits.

He moved to Accrington in 1961 and set up his Derby Street shop in 1967 with wife Angela.

Oldest son Joe, 51, said his father had gone through a bit of a culture shock coming from Sicily to Lancashire, although he would develop a fondness for the cuisine of his adopted homeland.

He said: “I remember him saying he had to get two buses to Manchester to get olive oil and he didn’t understand what lard was. At home he would eat Italian or Sicilian food but he loved Lancashire food, especially black pudding.”

Joe recalled people coming to the shop for their fittings and that people would travel up from London as it was cheaper than having a suit made on Savile Row. He added that his father was a joker and was known for his great sense of humour.

He said: “Derby Street is a quiet residential street and you’d have people in Ferraris, Porcshes and Bentleys coming down to get suits fitted by my dad. He was a very funny man, he used to make me, my brother and my sister laugh by mispronouncing some words.”

Even after he retired aged 70, Giuseppe kept up his craft, setting up a small workshop in his Whalley Road home and making suits for his friends and family as well as moving to London for three years for help look after his first grandchild before moving back to Accrington.

Joe said: “He was one of the last traditional tailors.

“I have suits he made for me decades ago that still fit perfectly.

“He took great pride in his work and his clients faces when they saw their suits in the mirror.

“He used to say there wasn’t much that beat that.”

Giuseppe is survived by wife Angela, sons Joe and Marco, daughter Adriana and grandchildren Bert, Simon and Abbie.

In accordance with his wishes Giuseppe is to be buried in Sicily.

There will be a Mass at St Joseph’s church in Accrington at 9.30am on Thursday, August 20.

Did you know Giuseppe? Send us your memories to accringtonobserver@menmedia.co.uk or leave a message on our Facebook page.