A former chairman of a Keighley organisation for the disabled has died at the age of 81.

Thomas Moore, who served as Keighley Disabled People's Council chairman from 1986 to 1989, died at his home in West Lane, Keighley, last Thursday.

Mr Moore was an active member of the Temple Row centre, serving as a committee member from 1985. He was made honorary vice president after retiring from the committee in 1989.

Disability rights adviser Keith Bell says: "Tom was a great man who was passionate about the needs of disabled people, and I think some of the work he did as chairman is very much underrated.

"He played a leading role in bringing the disabled people's council to a standard where the meetings were businesslike but fun."

A native of South Shields, he met wife Gladys, from Cross Roads, while serving with the Royal Air Force.

The couple settled in the Haworth area, later moving to West Lane.

After the war Mr Moore worked as an engineering inspector at NSF in Keighley.

"He was a real character who had very firm views, but he was a private man as well," adds daughter Christine Wrathall.

A funeral service was held at Oakworth Crematorium yesterday (Thursday).

He is survived by wife Gladys and his children Christine, Terry, Geoff, Anne and Andrea .