A SCAFFOLDING instructor who was once a "roadie" for the likes of the Rolling Stones and Madonna is retiring after a 40-year career.

Fran Mincha is now settled in Yarm after retiring from his most recent job as a college instructor – but in his youth he spent ten years touring with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

He toured with Bruce Springsteen in 1988 and said the singer would "have a craic on with the crew, and was just like one of the lads".

His other star-studded tales include holding the spotlight on Geri Halliwell at the Brit Awards in 1997 – the year she wore the infamous Union Jack dress.

He also gave Ozzy Osbourne a backstage pop-talk at the Moscow Music Peace Festival and went on tour with REM.

However, after suffering serious injuries in a motorbike accident he was forced to turn down joining Oasis on their world tour in 1996.

The 65-year-old said: “I was pretty smashed up and then tried to go back to work too soon but the doctor looked at me in the eye and said if I did, I would never work again."

The former instructor at the Teesside-based NETA training group has worked in every aspect of the industry from offshore oil rigs to ship yards. But it is the ten years' touring which was the highlight of his career.

After retraining as an instructor, his first lesson to students was: "If you haven't got a sense of humour you might as well leave."

But he also said attention to detail was crucial to a successful career.

"The thing with scaffolding is you get your cowboys that just throw it up and think that will do, but it has to be right," he said.

“But you have to be strict because what you are teaching is dangerous. When you are 300 foot in the air, you have to know what you are doing and you have to have your wits about you.”

Scaffolding Training Co-ordinator at NETA, Michael Allan said: “Fran has been a figure head in scaffolding for a number of years and wherever you go people know Fran.

“He has been an absolute pleasure to work with and I have learnt a lot from him that hopefully I can pass down in the training area. Fran leaves a legacy of tales behind him and no doubt will still be heard of for years to come.”