Tributes have poured in following the death of a former Bradford headteacher who devoted much of his life to charity.

Brian Mitchell, who died in Well Springs Nursing Home, Heaton, Bradford, taught at Lister Lane Special School, Bradford, in the 1950s, and returned there as head in 1968, staying for 16 years until his retirement.

A great worker for charity, Mr Mitchell, who was a member of Bingley harriers, often ran long distances to raise money for causes, such as an international campaign to eradicate polio, and for the school itself.

He knew the benefits that pets could have emotionally on pupils at the school, ordering fish and budgerigars as soon as he took over.

He also helped to found Bingley Central Youth Club in 1952, and went on to become its secretary.

He was a former treasurer of Bingley and Denholme Youth Council (and chairman of its sports committee) and Airedale Area Youth Committee. Mr Micthell, who ran in the first London marathon in 1981, was also a former president of Shipley Rotary Club, Bingley harriers and Saltaire Services Club (for ex-servicemen).

And he was Baildon Rugby Union Club's first playing president, also achieving an ambition of playing in the first team with his son Dave.

He learned his rugby at Bingley Grammar School, and held both county and district titles as a junior long-distance runner. He was also a cyclist with keighley Road Club.

Between his spells at Lister Lane, Mr Mitchell taught deaf and physically handicapped children at Bradford School for the Deaf and Heaton Royds Special School, Shipley, and was also headteacher at the Church of England School in Calverley and Westfield County Primary School, Yeadon.

Other schools at which he taught included Eccleshill North, Greengates, All Saints' and Odsal House.

Mr Mitchell, who was born in Crossflatts, went to loughborough University and obtained a diploma from Leeds University in the education of children with learning difficulties.

Baildon Rugby Union Club's press officer, Graham Reid, said: "Brian was a very likeable man. He had a real zest for life.''

His funeral will be held on Friday at Nab Wood Crematorium at 10am, and there will be a reception at Baildon Rugby Union Club.

He leaves a widow Pam, a sister Betty, sons Dave, Alan, John and Paul, and grandchildren Karen, James, Vicky and Nicole.

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