At the bar were Ken Onslow and Maurice Owen. Ken, 63, said: "He was one of those people who you always thought would be there. He was larger than life and we'll miss him."
Maurice, 62, described Bernard as a `down to earth, generous, generous man'. He said: "He would always come in and have the banter with us. And he was sharp, really sharp. He had a massive presence and if anyone heckled him at his shows he would take them to the cleaners. It will be a fair bash in here to send him off."
Jack Kanurzurna, whose brother is married to Bernard's sister, broke the bad news. Jack, 73, said: "If you were in trouble he would be the first to organise something for you."
John Smith, 51, from Collyhurst, said Bernard was `an absolute gentleman'. He said: "He was one of us and told it like it was."
Barmaid Lisa Meara, 46, from Blackley, described Bernard as 'the perfect boss'. She said: "We're all shocked. He was a fighter - we thought nothing would stop him." Tweet