Prof Tom Whiteside died last month aged 75 and despite living most of his life in Cambridge, his final wish was for his ashes to be brought back to be scattered in Blackpool.

Friend John Bamber of Blackpool, who met the professor when they were both pupils at Blackpool Grammar School in the 1940s, said he remembered a shocking incident when his boyhood pal fell through a glass window ending up with a foot-long dagger of glass in his back.

He added: "One morning assembly, in the fifth year - 1947 to 1948 - Tom was in his usual place at the back of the hall, leaning against a glass partition when there was a sudden sharp crack.

"A large splinter of glass had gone through his jacket and shirt, penetrating his body to rest near his heart.

"Showing neither pain nor fear, he remained in position until the end of assembly, only then reporting to the duty master, who told him brusquely "Get yourself up to Victoria Hospital", about a mile and a half away.

"He found his own way there, unaccompanied, reporting to the casualty department that he had a foot-long dagger of glass in his back."

Prof Whiteside was born in Blacow Street, one of the long-demolished slum areas off Talbot Road. His mother died when he was five and he was brought up by his father, who had been severely wounded in the First World War.

After school, he gained a scholarship to Bristol University where he gained a First in French and Latin, returning home in the summer months to work as a deckchair attendant on Blackpool Prom.

Throughout his time at Bristol, his passion remained mathematics and he went on to St Catherine's College, Cambridge, gaining a PhD for a thesis in the History of Mathematics in 17th Century England.

He rose to become a leading world authority on Newton's mathematics. His edition of Newton's Mathematical Papers is universally known as Whiteside's Papers.

But Mr Bamber only remembers a friend who used to telephone him regularly, his calls sometimes lasting more than an hour.

He added: "It wasn't until 1997 that, after 50 years since school, Prof Whiteside contacted me again to ask whether I would help him organise a fifth year reunion.

"It has been an honour and privilege to have been regarded as one of his very good friends."