A scientist recognised around the world for his ground-breaking work on cancer drugs has died.

Barry Furr, 71, developed drugs to treat breast and prostate cancer in his role as chief scientist at pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca. His drug Zoladex is vital to Macclesfield, as AstraZeneca at Hurdsfield - which employs 1,800 people - is the only site in the world capable of the complex processes needed to package the drug.

Barry, a grandfather of five, was chief scientist at AstraZeneca until he retired aged 62, but continued as a consultant for international companies and trustee for cancer charities until he died.

Barry Furr, who was instrumental in developing cancer drugs, has died aged 71

His wife Eileen, 67, who lived with Barry at Fence Avenue for 43 years, said he never lost his passion for science.

Eileen said: “Barry was a workaholic because he knew what he was doing was important.

“His research has helped so many people around the world and is so important for Macclesfield. He was working right up until he died. Although he was unwell, he never lost his love for science.”

Barry died at home on Friday after suffering kidney failure which meant he had dialysis at home. Despite his illness, he arranged for the family to go to Florida last year for his 70th birthday.

He had a son Alex, and daughters Rhiannon and Abigail, who is a teacher at Broken Cross, married to Matthew Beaden, who lives next door on Fence Avenue.

Barry grew up in North London before studying chemistry, microbiology and physiological chemistry at Reading University.

He did a second degree in Physiological Chemistry and he met Eileen while studying for a PhD in Reproductive Endocrinology.

They moved to Macclesfield in 1972 when Barry got a job with ICI at Alderley Park, which later became AstraZeneca.

He was awarded an OBE in January 2000 for services to cancer drug discovery.

Eileen, a retired languages teacher, said: “He must be one of the few people in the world who answered ‘breast and prostate Ma’am’ when the Queen asked ‘what kind of cancer did you work on?’.

“With all the tributes coming in we realise how many lives he touched. Barry was straight-talking but very generous and had amazing integrity.

“He loved his family and I’ll always remember him at the kitchen table doing the Guardian crossword.

“I’ll miss his companionship and love. He said ‘I love you’ every single day and I’ll miss him terribly, but words cannot express how proud we are.”

Barry’s funeral is at St Michael’s Church on Thursday, March 12, 1pm followed by a committal at Macclesfield Crematorium for family. Family flowers only but there will be a collection for Breast Cancer Campaign and East Cheshire Hospice.