The death of the Telegraph & Argus’ long-time Baildon correspondent Geoffrey Thorpe will come as sad news to the thousands who enjoyed his writing during a 25 year career with the paper.
Mr Thorpe, whose funeral takes place tomorrow, only retired from filing his copy five years ago on his 90th birthday and passed away on November 27, 2013 after a short spell in hospital.
He began supplying local news at the launch of the Yorkshire Observer in 1983.
And on reaching the landmark of his 1,000th column, Geoffrey, then 87, told of his unwavering enthusiasm.
“I love the work. As long as I can keep on going, I will carry on,” he said at the time.
Geoffrey first wrote for the ex-service column in the Telegraph & Argus and was then persuaded to help get the Yorkshire Observer off the ground.
Geoffrey kept all 1,000 of his Yorkshire Observer columns in a cuttings book to be passed on to Baildon Library.
“It might be useful for people to see what was going on in times gone by,” he said.
He was born Geoffrey William Thorpe on June 7, 1918 in Brierley near Barnsley, and at the age of 18 he joined the army serving from 1936 to 1946.
He was evacuated from  Dunkirk in 1940). He also served with the Middle East forces in the 9th army in Egypt, North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
On return to civilian life he began employment with Refuge Assurance Company as an agent and was promoted to the area manager for Keighley from 1973 until his retirement in 1983 having completed 37 years in his working career.
He was also in the special constabulary, serving Barnsley and Pontefract divisions, where he held the rank of sergeant and was awarded a long service and good conduct medal.
He joined various committees’ including the Coldstream Guards Association, Dunkirk Veterans, Baildon Veterans and Baildon Men’s Forum – all of which he was chairman for.
He was president for Cudworth Hospital Committee and Honourable Secretary for Royal British Legion (Brierley branch), Baildon Conservative Club for Royal British Legion and was chairman and welfare officer for ten years and president until 1997.
He was also a life member of Baildon’s Soldiers And Sailors club.
His other interests included opera, brass bands, orchestral music and up to a few days before he passed away he still enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and reading autobiographies.
His wife Nancy of 66 years died in January of this year aged 93.
His funeral will be at Skipton Crematorium at 12.20pm tomorrow. Donations to Royal British Legion are requested.