FORMER highway engineer and long time Ben Rhydding resident , Thomas (Tom) Colyer Venning MBE, has died at the age of 83 after a two-year battle against cancer.

Born in Hendon and educated at Caterham College, Mr Venning began his career as an articled pupil at Coulsden and Purley Urban District Council (UDC), before moving on to Surbiton UDC, Norfolk County Council and Kent County Council.

At the outbreak of the 1939-45 war he joined the Royal Engineers, achieving the rank of Captain.

His military career included helping to establish the Mulberry Harbour, a key bridgehead for the Allies in the Normandy landings.

As the Allied forces advanced in Europe Tom continued to play his part until he was blown up by an anti-tank mine on the Rhine. It took him more than a year to recover following an extensive period in hospital and left him unable to continue in active service.

His contribution was recognised by King George VI and his distinguished service was recorded in the London Gazette of March 1945.

Upon his return to civilian life, Mr Venning rejoined Kent County Council as assistant divisional surveyor, responsible for the development and maintainence of roads in the county.

He moved to Yorkshire in 1951 as divisional county

surveyor to the West Riding (latterly West Yorkshire) County Council, and subsequently moved to Ilkley.

He took an active role in community life through his association with St John's Church in Ben Rhydding and through participation in Ilkley's Road Safety Committee.

In 1959 he was appointed Honorary Secretary of the Institution of Highway Engineers (Yorkshire and Humberside branch), an organisation he had joined ten years previously.

After local government re-organisation in 1974, Tom continued in a similar role for North Yorkshire County Council, based firstly at Harrogate and finally at Skipton prior to his retirement.

In his work in the locality Mr Venning will be most widely remembered for keeping local roads open during the harsh snow-filled winters of the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1977 he was awarded the MBE in recognition of his service to the road industry and in 1991 was made honorary life member of the Institution of Highways and Transportation. He continued to work for the Institution until 1993.

In his retirement Mr Venning pursued his keen interest in theatre and music.

He leaves a widow, Susan, three children, Frances, Andrew and Martin, and five grandchildren. He was a devoted family man and will be sadly missed.

There will be a Remembrance Service at St John's Church, Ben Rhydding on June 15 at 12 noon.

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