A FORMER chairman of the Bradford Liberal Federation has died aged 87.

Arthur Ellis (pictured) was born in the Tong Street Area on November 18, 1924 and after working as a textile representative for J.E. Pickles & Co. for 25 years after leaving school, devoted himself to local politics.

Mr Ellis was a local government officer with Spenborough Council and also at Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council, before becoming chairman of the Bradford Liberal Federation for seven years.

He was also the president of the Yorkshire Young Liberals and was chairman of the Northowram branch of the Royal British Legion.

Mr Ellis' brother, Ronald, 82, paid tribute to his late brother, who passed away peacefully on February 6 at the Langdale Residential Home, Brierley Lane.

He said: "My brother was a very free thinker and he made many friends through politics, and he might be remembered by some people in the Bradford liberal group.

"Arthur was a smart man, he passed his 11-plus with honours and should have gone to a grammar school, but this was before free education so he had to go to a secondary modern instead.

"If he had been able to access free education he could have gone to university, but he felt he got a good education and learned a lot through politics.

"Arthur was a very important person to me and had a very positive impact on my life and those of others."

Mr Ellis attended St John's Junior School in Tong Street and after passing his 11-plus went on to Highfield Secondary Modern.

He had been a widower for 45 years after his wife, Joyce, died away in 1970.

Mr Ellis' funeral is held at St Paul's Church, Birkenshaw, on February 19 from 2pm.