The former owner of the Barnes Street chip shop in Clayton-le-Moors has died.

Robert Whelan, known affectionately as ‘Bobby Chip’ after running the popular shop with wife Lynda for 12 years, passed away aged 68.

The grandfather-of-two had battled pancreatic cancer for more than two years and died at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, April 19.

Bob previously worked in engineering at Allspeeds Ltd on Atlas Street in Clayton-le-Moors as a skilled turner for 17 years. The Blackburn Rovers fan and season ticket holder was then persuaded by his wife of 45 years Lynda to take over the Barnes Street chip shop in 1992.

Lynda said: “I was the reason we were there.

“I just wanted to run the chip shop.

“He told me if I wanted it then let’s go and get it. He did all the frying and I did everything else.

“We really enjoyed it and got to have a chat with lots of people.”

His daughter Tracy Thompson said he was ‘lovely man and will be sorely missed’.

She said: “He was very popular and came from a big family. He was a family man and absolutely worshipped his two granddaughters and loved his holidays in Florida.

“He was a very funny man and had a good sense of humour and was very generous and kind-hearted.

“He always tried to make people laugh and had a supportive word for them. He was just a good egg.”

Tracy said her parents retired from running the chip shop in 2004 but a lot of people in the area still remembered Bob.

She said: “A lot of people knew him, especially from running the chip shop on Barnes Square which is the hub of Clayton.

“A lot of people knew him as ‘Bobby Chip’. He was just a lovely man and will be sorely missed.

“He had pancreatic cancer which spread and that is what took him. He was nursed at home and my mum was very dedicated.”

Bob enjoyed playing bowls and was a member of All Speeds and Parker Street teams and would play in Mercer Park.

He also enjoyed playing snooker and darts and going to every Rovers home match.

His funeral service will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Friday, April 24 at 3pm. Family flowers. Donations in his memory can be made to Macmillan Cancer Support via L Champ Funeral Services.