Published Date: 02 December 2009 Chorley Guardian News and Lancashire Evening Post.
Tributes have been paid to a well-known businessman and father-of-eight who has lost his fight with cancer.
Frank Noblett died peacefully with his family around him at St Catherine's Hospice, aged 78.Frank ran timber firm Commercial Sawmills in Water Street for 35 years, supplying sheds and fencing to the local community.He later lived in America before returning to Chorley to build up a new business.His family has paid tribute to the pioneering businessman and dedicated family man, who had 24 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.Daughter Andrea said: "Dad loved his life. He loved to go for walks around Rivington with his wife Jean, to whom he was married for 52 years."He was a kind and loving husband who worked hard all his life for his family. He will be sadly missed."The land on which Commercial Sawmills stood was bought by Chorley Council in 1981 so they could build All Seasons' Leisure Centre.The family moved to America but returned in 1985 to start a new business in the crafts and hobby manufacturing industry, which is run by one of daughter Andrea.She said: "He worked in the business long after his retirement and spent many hours indulging in his greatest passion – gardening in his greenhouse, growing plants and vegetables."Frank was incredibly proud of all his children, indeed he passed on his creative skills to all his children and business skills to his sons."Frank's funeral was at St Gregory's Church on November 19, followed by a cremation at Pleasington Crematorium.More than 80 friends and family also attended a celebration of his life at Shaw Hill Golf Club.His 24 grandchildren each wrote a message on a balloon before releasing them into the sky.The family also paid tribute to the excellent care Frank received in his final days at St Catherine's Hospice.Andrea said: "You can not buy the kind of loving care they gave to our dad."
