Mudassir Khan was one of the first Asian residents in Lancashire when he arrived on these shores in 1956.

Mr Khan, affectionately known as Khan Saheb, arrived in the UK as a 21-year-old student and was funded to complete his studies in the UK by his parents in Pakistan.

He was also fluent in English when he arrived in the UK. But that did not make his early life in Lancashire any easier.

After completing his studies, he worked at the local Centenary Mill, and William Birtwistle Allied Mill. It was at these places of work where Mr Khan made a real impact for Asian employees, often assisting his fellow Asian workers from his management position.

He met and married a local girl, Kath, who converted to Islam.

He was later involved in producing the ‘Blackburn Independent’ newspaper, and worked on BBC Radio Lancashire in the 1980s and 1990s before becoming a magistrate.

Mr Khan went on to teach Urdu at Blackburn College, Accrington and Rossendale College, the University of Central Lancashire, and Greater Manchester Police.

He remained a passionate advocate of the Urdu language and encouraged modern second and third generation Pakistani heritage folk to learn about their homeland and their language.

Mr Khan was continuously involved in community engagement and only recently carried out a talk to a youth group run by One Voice.

Proudly patriotic of his ‘Pakistan’ Mr Khan never forgot his roots and travelled to the sub-continent regularly until recent ill health.

He also wrote a book entitled ‘Still Here’ about his early experiences of Blackburn life.

In his book, published in 2007, Mr.Khan recalled the early days in Blackburn.

“In the beginning I didn’t like it at all and I wanted to go back as soon as I could but, on my father’s advice, I gave it three months.

“Three months turned into six months, then 12 months, then half a century,” he said.

Many people will have great recollections of meeting Mr Khan and he left an indelible mark on all those who crossed his path.

Family and friends said they could not have met a nicer man, a true gentleman, full of charm and wit.

He is survived by his son, Suhail, and daughter, Shahnaz.