TRIBUTES have been paid to the man hailed as a huge influence in improving Bolton's race relations.

Raymond Halliwell, who has died aged 66, played a crucial role over 18 years as head of Bolton Racial Equality Council (BREC) before retiring in 1995. He lost a long struggle with illness on Saturday.

Granville Leather, current BREC chairman, said Mr Halliwell's contribution to racial harmony -- a cause he stepped down as a councillor to promote -- cannot be underestimated. He said: "It would be fair to say that race relations in Bolton are a lot better because of Raymond Halliwell.

"He was a guy who led from the front and he was very well respected among all the communities."

Mr Leather said it was Mr Halliwell's personal qualities which enabled him to work so well with others.He said: "He was a very honest man. If he said he was doing something he would do it."

Devoted

Friends have recalled how he devoted himself to the cause of positive race relations with unflagging energy.

"I have always had this commitment to help other people," he told the BEN shortly after joining the Racial Equality Council. "It can be a devil within you and I am sometimes a workaholic."

It was that commitment which won the admiration of ethnic community leaders such as Ish Patel, manager of Bolton's Asian Elders' Initiative.

Mr Patel said: "He made a very valuable contribution and I think he managed to bring together lots of people from the ethnic minority community. He worked very hard and he is a great loss for Bolton."

Mr Halliwell served as a councillor for Church, East and North ward - first as a Conservative and then as an independent - before resigning to take up the racial equality post in 1977.

Former Tory colleague Cllr John Hanscomb said: "He was a good and dedicated councillor."