TRIBUTES have been paid to the courage of a man who never complained -- despite being ill for much of his life.

Family and friends have been devastated by the death of Paul Trowbridge at the age of 42.

Since being a toddler Paul, of Leicester Road, Tyldesley, suffered from kidney failure. He was dependent on dialysis and unable to work. He endured two unsuccessful kidney transplants and spent the last seven months of his life at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Yet he was hugely popular and his fighting spirit, sense of humour and courage was admired by all who knew him. His mother, Rita, of Castleton Court, Tyldesley, said: "Paul was always unwell but he never complained and, at his lowest, he still had his sense of humour"

Paul was married to wife Alison for 22 years. He was well known in the Tyldesley area. His parents used to run the Butcher's Arms and his sister, Anne-Marie Rawlinson, runs the Bongs Tavern in Castle Street.

He was admitted into Manchester Royal Infirmary with stomach pains. An exploratory operation revealed he had a perforated bowel and he became progressively weaker, despite putting up a brave fight.

When doctor's told him there was nothing else they could do, he just wanted to return to Alison and his Leicester Road home. He died hours after he returned home, on Wednesday May 1.