The wife and brother of a popular pub landlord have paid tribute to a man who “loved being with people”.

Ian Savoury, who ran the New Inn, Cononley, died on Thursday at 54.

“He was a wonderful man and loved being with people,” said Jane Savoury, his wife of 24 years. “Ian made everybody feel welcome, whether they were local or from afar. He was always one of the lads and liked to laugh,” she said. “He loved life, but it was too short. The world will certainly be a quieter place without him.”

Mr Savoury grew up in Cononley and went to school in the village and later South Craven School.

A joiner by trade, he also ran the Snooty Fox pub in Oakworth for five years.

But his brother Neil Savoury, who runs the Cononley’s other pub, The Railway, said Ian’s heart was in Cononley.

“He was born and bred in the village and we grew up in a house on Meadow Lane,” said Neil, 52. “It was always his dream to have the New Inn. That was our local.” Neil, who has been at The Railway since May, said the rivalry between the two pubs was always “friendly”.

“At last year’s Cononley Gala, there was a tug-of-war between the two pubs,” said Neil. “The Railway won and Ian never let me forget that. So at this year’s gala we’re going to do another one in memory of Ian.”

The brothers were pictured last year in a photograph which recreated a snap taken in 1957 and featured some of the same New Inn regulars.

More than 200 people attended Ian’s funeral, which was held on Monday at Cononley United Church.

“I didn’t realise he had so many friends,” said Jane.