The first Skipton Town Mayor has died from a heart attack at the age of 70.

Ernest Gill, pictured, was the eldest son of Reginald and Daisy Gill and attended Gargrave Primary School. The family moved to Skipton in 1936 and he went to Christ Church Primary and Brougham Street Modern.

He left school at 14 and started work as an apprentice joiner before National Service in 1948-9. He spent seven years with the Church Army based at Truro, moving from parish to parish on a horse drawn carriage.

Mr Gill worked on the buses as a conductor, then for British Rail as a guard. He later joined Carr and Gill, Skipton Foundry and eventually Aireville Baths where he worked for 20 years as a life guard, retiring six years ago.

He met wife Joyce while serving on the buses and they married in 1957, having three children, John, Philip and Margaret.

The children remember him as an adoring family man, setting high standards to begin with but being proud and thrilled when each one had done their best.

Mr Gill was a councillor for Skipton UDC during the 1960s and 70s, representing South Ward. He became vice president of the UDC and then Skipton's first mayor.

At the baths he taught many to swim, including youngsters who went on to represent county and country.

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