Dr Gerhard Behr and his twin sister, Isoldemaria, were refugees from Kiel, when they were 20 in 1934, as their father was Jewish and they risked persecution.

He was already qualified as a doctor but had to re-take exams and got his first job at St Bartholemew's Hospital, London, before transferring to Kent and then Coventry.

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He arrived in Burnley in 1946 and worked at the former Victoria Hospital, in the venereal diseases clinic, working there at the advent of the National Health Service.

Dr Behr became well-known as a consultant pathologist at Burnley General Hospital where he met his wife Bernice, known as Bunny, who was a sister there. The couple had two children, David and Susan.

He was a founder member of the sterilising club at the hospital, the first of its kind in England. Central sterilisation systems like Dr Behr's later became popular all over hospitals in England, firstly for ward dressings and then for theatre dressings and instruments.

Dr Behr, who lived in Reedley, and could speak German, English, French, Latin and Greek, retired 30 years ago but carried on in his role as a pathologist for another four years. His wife died in 1999.

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His son, David, said his father was an avid reader and had a lifelong interest in computers. He added: "Dad was always the bricks and mortar of our family, he held everything together and had a very strong work ethic and was incredibly generous to us.

"He loved Burnley and was passionate about it, and it really upset and perplexed him what was happening in the NHS and with the running of Burnley General Hospital and the A&E situation."

Dr Behr leaves his two children, son and daughter-in-law Richard and Margaret and grandchildren Lucy, Amy, David and Harriet.

The funeral will be held tomorrow at Burnley Crematorium at 10-40 a.m. Donations may be made to The World Wildlife Fund or RSPB, c/o Co-operative Funeralcare, 18-20 Colne Road, Brierfield, BB9 5NS, or call 619966.