THE life of a prominent Bradford-born businessman will be celebrated tomorrow (THUS) following his death at the age of 70 following a long illness.

Alan Duttine was co-founder of Rawdon-based Airedale International Air Conditioning and was a leading figure in the European air conditioning industry.

The fourth of five brothers, including actor John Duttine, Alan was raised in Buttershaw and at the age of 16 became an engineering apprentice .

In 1974, Alan co-founded Airedale Air Conditioning Ltd. with Peter Midgley in Batley. The business moved to Leeds in 1976 and grew to be a leading manufacturer of chillers and precision air conditioning. In 1984 it built a new factory at Rawdon and in 1989 was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement.

Alan received an OBE in 1997 for services to the air conditioning industry, including serving as president of Eurovent and the Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Association in the UK from 1990-92.

He retired in 2005 after Airedale was acquired by its current owner US-based Modine Manufacturing by which time it had become a major manufacturing company with 450 employees worldwide

A service to celebrate Alan’s life will take place at 11:30 am tomorrow at Christchurch, The Grove, Ilkley, followed by a social gathering at Ilkley Rugby Club. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Alzheimer’s Research UK at alan.duttine.muchloved.com.