David Wildman, artistic director of the Ilkley Playhouse since 1963, has died after a long illness.

Mr Wildman, 67, former head of arts and drama at Ilkley Grammar School, was admitted to hospital three weeks ago.

He was unable to attend last week's reopening of the Playhouse, which has been undergoing a £750,000 refurbishment since June.

Playhouse member and long-standing friend Mr Ian Wilson said: "It is the cruellest of ironies that David will never set foot in the new enlarged auditorium and will not direct the programme he had devised for the entirely new studio later in 1999. Both theatres have been based on his designs."

Charles David Wildman was born in Bradford in 1930 and trained as an art teacher at Leeds College of Art and Leeds University, before moving to Ilkley in 1958. It was then that he joined the Ilkley Players.

Soon after taking over as artistic director in 1963 Mr Wildman inaugurated Ilkley's first arts festival with a three-week programme of music, drama, sculpture and art. It was to be a forerunner of the Ilkley Literature festival.

It was while teaching at the secondary school in Ilkley - which later became the Grammar School - that he wrote, designed and directed two original musicals: Vendetta, and My Friend Barney.

Mr Wildman established a connection with Gerald Tyler, the old West Riding's drama advisor, and eventually became Chief Moderator for the North Lindsey and West Riding Examination Board.

He also established links between Ilkley Players and local schools, and was always on the lookout for new theatrical talent.

Mr Wilson added: "His heart was always in the Playhouse. After his early retirement due to ill-health, the theatre became his life work - despite numerous setbacks in health and increasing mobility problems.

"His sets were a byword for excellence, and his productions were always strong. He was a dominant and forceful member of the management committee."

Mr Wildman, who had suffered from an immune deficiency, leaves a wife, Pat, and a daughter, Louise.

A private cremation will take place this Thursday, followed by a memorial service at 1pm at St John's, Ben Rhydding, followed by a reception at the Playhouse.

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