A former club steward and keen angler, Eric Gardner has died aged 87.

He was born in Mexborough, but moved to Keighley in early childhood.

After a spell at Austwick as a farmhand, he returned to Keighley in his late teens and took up a job as a labourer at a Dalton Lane mill.

He then embarked on a career - which was to span 24 years - in the insurance business, first with the Prudential and then with the Royal London.

Mr Gardner then served as steward - with his late wife, Olive, as stewardess - at the Beechcliffe Club, for 10 years, and later at Keighley Liberal Club.

He worked for seven years in the offices at Magnet until his retirement, after which he took on a part-time handyman role at Keighley Preparatory School.

His chief love was fishing, and although he gave up active angling when he was about 80 he remained an honorary member of Keighley Angling Club.

During the Second World War, Mr Gardner served as an air frame fitter with the 74th Fighter Squadron in the Middle East and in Europe.

His daughter, Molly, said this week: "He was a well known and very well respected man. I learned something from him nearly every day of his life."

Mr Gardner - who lived latterly at Croft House residential home, Eastburn - leaves a daughter, son-in-law Albert and grandson David.

The funeral service is at Oakworth Crematorium today, at 11.30am.