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TRIBUTES pour in for popular sportsman Alan ‘Mad Dog’ Massicks (website and Free Press, October 14)

Kyle Harrison: So sad. I will dearly miss this larger than life character, one of the most genuine and caring human beings I had the pleasure to meet and an absolute gentleman with a superb sense of humour. God bless you always Alan, see you again someday, it was an honour to have met you.

Steven Dew: RIP Alan. I have lots of great memories working and socialising with you before I left for New Zealand, our friendship cannot be taken away. I will meet you again someday.

Susan Barker: RIP. Happy memories. Thinking of Anne and family at this sad time. Tracy Askew: RIP Mass such sad news. Sympathies to the family and friends xx Jackie Dickinson: RIP Uncle Al, we loved our walks with you we will all miss you what a character xx Janet Allen: OMG! So sad to hear of Alan’s passing. He was a sweetie who loved dogs. Condolences to his family n friends. Jeffrey Robert Pallagrass: Sad loss, worked with Alan for quite a few years at Rossendale Combining. Top lad R.I.P. Mark Woodward: Another sad loss. RIP Alan. Fantastic Lancashire League memories of Alan. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Anne Dodgon: Great cricketer, used to watch him in the Works League playing for the Combining. Chloe Cutting: Aww what a nice man he was! I used to see him all the time out an about. RIP.

Emily Kinder: Awww so sad what a nice bloke he was x X Collette Addy: Very sad news he always said ‘what’s accruing’ lol. RIP Alan. Janine Hey: RIP Alan a lovely polite man. Michelle Simpson: Aww how very sad RIP Alan x Tanya Taylor: R.I.P Alan. Julie Goldsworthy: So sorry, love to his family x Lorraine Silvester: RIP God bless you Alan. Paul Brown: Rest in peace Alan, enjoyed knowing you and playing football with you. Moira Staines: Our thoughts and prayers with his family. X Lyndsey Wicks: RIP Alan another one gone too soon. X

Tony Street: RIP Alan great guy, enjoyed playing cricket with you at Hassy. Sue Pennington: RIP Alan, thoughts with Anne and family x Claire Higson: R.I.P!! No age to die xx William Staines: Will have a few beers, good times, good memories.

PROTESTS as Bacup postal delivery office threatened with closure (website and

Free Press, October 14)

Janine Hey: What the heck is going on? Seems like the council, government etc just want Rossendale to disappear. Park and ride to other towns to go shopping so other places profit and now this. Seriously someone’s having a laugh. It’s people’s jobs too.

Joanne Keenan: What the hell do we pay council tax for? No police station, part time fire station, not forgetting the baths and now this absolute joke. What about people who don’t drive or elderly people? We’re gonna have nothing.

Ashleigh Lord: This is outrageous! There’s going to be nothing left in this town. Ian Rawcliffe: Would this mean having to drive to Rochdale to collect missed parcels? Vanessa Cunliffe: Could be a possibility if they don’t get somewhere for us posties to take our parcels at the end of the day. Mandy Willman: I’m disabled and can’t make it to Rochdale easily. At times even Bacup is a stretch. Kay Hamer: Any missed parcels and we have to go to Rochdale?! Stephanie Hunt Garside: That’s ridiculous, what are people who don’t drive going to do?

Karen Clough: No that’s rubbish. It’s brilliant just where it is, why take it away? Ann Ford: What’s next for Bacup? There’s not much left now. It’s abso- lutely outrageous. Christine Hodgson: Why change a good thing, if it works well don’t touch it.

Ann Subasic: Another lovely building under threat. Stuart Andrea Ashworth: Another nail in the coffin for Bacup. Jamie Rowell: Ashamed to live in this town now. Hayley Smith: Get a protest going I’ll join ha xx Jeff Dean: Why Rochdale? It’s such an awful place to get too! Jacqui Clayton: I’ve signed petitions in the past against the closure!

MAJOR hurdle removed from controversial Rawtenstall retail park bid (website and Free Press, October 14)

Janet O’Driscoll: The major aspect of this is that people in the Valley will not have to go to Ramsbottom for a decent Aldi, God knows where for Iceland. At least Valley money will get spent in the Valley! Stuart McDonald: No one likes change for the sake of it, but this is something that’ll help the town be more than just that “place at the end of the line”. Peter Hargreaves: Excellent. Dragging Rawtenstall into the 21st century! Adam Millward: Move on. About time we move on like the rest of the towns, got to go with the times. Gail Elsworth: Just get it built, let’s move with the times.

HUNDREDS attend funeral of chippy owner Richard Ashworth (website and Free Press, October 14)

Rebecca Abery: I’m really sad to hear this. We only met him a few weeks ago, such a lovely man who took time to show our little lad a trick with a chain while we waited for our tea. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family. Rebecca Field: My heart goes out to all his family – always had time to stop and ask how I was and I always left his shop in a better mood! A lovely bloke – glad he’s had a great send off. Samantha Brierley: Awww so sad, my heart goes out to Elaine, the children and the rest of the family. Such a lovely man! X Alex Foulger: I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. Richard was a top guy! Another good one taken far too young. RIP.

Carol Bulmer: Aw no, so very sorry, such a lovely man, thoughts with his family xxxx Suzanna Cockshott: He was a great bloke was tash. I will certainly miss his jokes! RIP xxx Brian Stephen Parkinson: Many happy and funny moments with Richard, still laugh about them now. RIP pal. Carole Kershaw Nuttall: RIP Tash..always a smile n a joke for us. Elaine, Janine n family are in our thoughts. Such a great loss, take care xxx

Paula Turner: So sad, so

sorry Elaine x You were both so kind when my husband John died 18 years and sent me flowersxI never forgot thatx take care Elaine x

Alyson Barnes: So sorry to hear about this, Richard was a great bloke. Thinking about you Elaine. Amanda Borkin: Aww, very sad news. Such a lovely man. Condolences to Elaine and the family X

Benly Murph: RIP Tash. Always enjoyed his visits to my shop in the morning before he opened up.

Paul Lee: Richard was a cracking bloke and always guaranteed a good laugh with him.

Anne Dodgon: RIP Tash, we had some laughs over the years. Love and hugs to Elaine and family xx

Karen Parkinson: Such a lovely man.. always laughing & joking... RIP Tash – thoughts are with his family xx

Freda Kay: Was so sorry to hear of Tash’s passing hope you & all his family are ok. x Lyndsey Wicks: RIP Tash my thoughts and prayers go out to Elaine, Janine and family at this sad and distressing time x

Grace Yeadon: Wow, such sad news! He was a lovely man. Thoughts and prayers to his family xx Jean Dodd: We grew up together on Hall Carr. I never met a nicer bloke x Sooos ad RIPx Christine Duggan: So sad, was shocked when I heard, nice man! My heart goes out to his family.

Kathsuch a Murphy:lovely man,RIP Tashmy heart family goesxx out to all your didn’t Denise know Holt: him Very but sad, feelI for you. Andy Darcy: Very sad. Knew him from years ago. Ste Globe: RIP Tash, what a great guy. Carla Wilkinson: RIP Tash. I’m so shocked. Xx Abby Jennings: Aw no wah, he was such a lovely man. Patricia Cropper: Lovely man, so sad. Nicola J Longmire: Lovely bloke xxx Michelle Loveday: Still can’t believe it. Lovely man! Xx Nigel Scholes Harper: Extremely sad to read this. Sleep well Tash, God bless.

Dale Cryer: Top bloke, always made me laugh when I popped in the chippy, going to be missed by so so many, sleep tight Tash. Vanessa Feather: RIP x thoughts r with Elaine and family x Gail Derbyshire: RIP Tash.. such a lovely man & a massive shock. Xx

Peni Higgins: Lovely man, very sad for his family xxx Theresa Jackson: RIP sleep well, God bless, love to the family xxx

Reece Desforges: Omg what a bloke, sadly missed my friend, sleep tight x Marie Marsden: OMG when did this happen I am in shock ?? Sue Engledow: I’ll miss his jokes. Gail Rowe: Lovely man x