Tributes paid to businessman Paul Kearns

TRIBUTES have been paid to businessman Paul Kearns, who died last week at the age of 50 after a brave battle against cancer.
 
The funeral of Mr Kearns, the former managing director of Lancashire Dairies, and latterly a director of Hale company Gorilla Drinks, will take place on Friday at noon at Holy Angels, RC Church in Hale Barns.
 
The Kearns family owned Cheetham Hill-based Lancashire Dairies until 2002, thereafter Paul ran Soya Health Foods and then Gorilla Drinks.
 
He is survived by his wife Debbie, children Sebastian, Sandy and Isabelle, mother Pat, brothers Tim and Paddy and sisters Lisa and Evanna.

Lawyer Mark Halliwell, a close friend for several decades, said: “Paul was a man who made sure he lived life to the full and in that respect he is an example to us all.

“In his younger days he was a really excellent snow skier, skiing for Manchester University. His real passion though was sailing and there he had a rare talent. He was always an exceptionally calm, assured and resourceful helmsman and indeed man, no matter what life threw at him.

“Those who know Paul will know that he was remarkably gregarious, always utterly at home walking into a strange bar in a strange town and quickly engaging with and becoming friends with the locals. As a result he was an exceptionally popular man.

“We will all take inspiration from Paul from the way he lived his life and in the last year or so from the positive way that he dealt with his tragic illness.” 
 
The family are inviting all friends to attend a celebration of Paul’s life at the Bull’s Head in Hale Barns on Friday afternoon after the funeral.