Tribute has been paid to one of Keighley's best-known figures - John Stanley Bell - who died on Saturday while walking in his beloved Yorkshire Dales.

Mr Bell, 74, had just set off walking from Dent with around a dozen fellow members of the Yorkshire Dales Society when he collapsed.

Walk leader Colin Speakman - the society's secretary - ran a quarter of a mile to Dent railway station to raise the alarm.

He returned to the scene with Roy Holmes, a member of the local fell rescue team, and attempts were made to resuscitate Mr Bell.

But their efforts and those of paramedics - who attended from Sedbergh - were in vain.

"John had been a member of our society for years and served on the management council," says Mr Speakman.

"He was extremely loyal and supportive, and his death is a terrible loss. We are all absolutely devastated.

"We had just started the walk and were heading up a road - known as Coal Road - out of Dent. John was happily chatting away one moment, and then suddenly he collapsed.

"At first we thought he had slipped but we quickly realised there was something tragically wrong."

John Stanley Bell - of Bradley Drive, Silsden - was educated at Sutton County Primary School and then at the old Keighley Boys Grammar.

After leaving school he worked as an apprentice engineer before embarking on a teaching career which spanned more than 30 years. He was head at Hothfield Street Junior School in Silsden for 18 years before taking early retirement in 1982.

In recognition of his work in education he was awarded a Master of Education honorary degree by Bradford University in 1976, and a year later became a member of the university's council. In 1998 he was appointed a pro-chancellor.

Mr Bell also devoted long and distinguished service to health and to local politics.

His health service work began in 1957 when he was co-opted on to the Keighley Hospitals House Committee.

Later roles included the chairmanship of Airedale Community Health Council and the Health Authority.

He joined the Labour Party in 1945 and served on the old Keighley Council from 1950 until 1974 and then on the former county council, which he chaired in 1975-76.

He was Keighley's youngest mayor - aged 33 - in 1960.

Mr Bell leaves a wife, Audrey, daughters Hilary and Rachel, a son Christopher and six grandchildren.

The funeral service was held at Keighley Shared Parish Church yesterday afternoon.