A military style funeral will be held tomorrow for a former Bevan Boy who was a dedicated supporter of the Royal British Legion and founder member of Shipley Model Railway Society.

Kenneth Garbutt led a busy and active life and would do anything for anyone.

Daughter Margaret Swift, 62, said he was also devoted to his family.

“We had a fantastic childhood. He used to wake us up and say, ‘we’re off to the seaside.’ He just decided and we’d go. we went all over the place,” she said.

“We’ve got loads of happy memories.”

Mr Garbutt was born in Stockton-on-Tees, but also lived in Baildon and spent more than 40 years at his home in Owlet Road, Shipley. At 18 he was called-up for national service and worked down the mines as a Bevan Boy, before completing his service with the Royal Corps of Signals in Malaya.

In 1945 he married Marjorie, who he met when in a dance troop called the Romany Rascals.

The couple had five children, Tommy, Barbara, Margaret, Peter and Philip.

The 87-year-old was widowed four-and-a-half years ago, which was something he struggled to get over.

Mr Garbutt had several jobs including as a painter and decorator, long distance lorry driver, a groundsman for Salts Mill Cricket Club and a mentor for young offenders.

He was also a chairman of Windhill Rangers, played semi-professional football and also once turned out for Barnsley FC.

In February 1978 Mr Garbutt was a founder member of Shipley Model Railway Society, with his son-in-law Tony Swift and three others.

The idea came about when Mrs Swift’s son was born and she needed to clear the spare room of her husband’s model railway.

Mr Swift said: “He became the president and as a founder member and former president, he was made a life member. He was the only life member. We all came together and made a real success of the society.”

Mr Garbutt was also a member of the British Legion and chairman of the Wrose branch. He spent many hours each November placing crosses on war graves across the district. He compiled a list of their locations and even cleaned them with a wire brush.

Mrs Swift said: “He went through all the graveyards whatever the weather. He had a bag of crosses and I had a mallet. We would look for any war graves and put a cross on them all. He did it for years.”

Mr Garbutt would also sell poppies in Shipley and insisted his daughter pin them on people so they were positioned correctly.

“He was the happiest person you could wish to know. He didn’t let life get him down. Nothing was a problem because you could always deal with it,” Mrs Swift said.

Mr Garbutt died on April 12 from heart failure. He leaves seven grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. His funeral will be held tomorrow at 10.10am at Nab Wood Crematorium, with donations to the British Legion.