Hale eco-campaigner Keith Neal, who walked 750 miles a year clearing rubbish from local streets, has died aged 84.
The retired schoolmaster died peacefully in his sleep on Easter Saturday at his home on Woburn Drive.
Keith, who had taught biology at Manchester Grammar School, became well known locally as the face of the ‘Keith Says’ advertising campaign, which sought to deter littering in the lanes between Hale, Timperley and Wythenshawe.
He spent many hours each week litter picking and in 2013 returned more than 1,000 discarded rubber bands to Royal Mail.
Keith said his daily three-mile litter picking walks were good exercise and that the bending down was good for his back.
In July 2014, Keith and a group of friends from St Peter’s Church in Hale started a bimonthly litter pick.
This Sunday’s litter pick will be held in tribute to Keith, with volunteers setting out from St Peter’s House in Ashley Road at 2pm.
A former Church Warden of St Peter’s Church in Hale, Keith chaired the church’s Mission in Action Committee.
He cared passionately about the environment and the challenge of climate-change, at home and abroad.
Keith is survived by his wife Ruth, their three children and grandchildren.
