AN OVERLOOKED Bradford man's achievements as a polar explorer are to be celebrated with an exhibition organised by the village's history society tomorrow.

Allan Gill was among the expedition which became the first to indisputably walk to the North Pole in 1969 and he was also involved in endeavours in Antarctica which earned him the Polar Medal and clasp, one of only a handful of people to be effectively awarded the medal twice.

Some of the work he was involved with has been credited with paving the way for modern research into climate change and an area of land was named Gill Buff in his honour by the US.

Despite that, the former clerk who joined the Met Office following National Service before getting more deeply involved in scientific work in the polar regions has largely faded into obscurity.

Following his retirement he lived in Aviemore, Scotland, until his death in 2010, though his sister still lives in the Bradford community where he grew up.

Mr Gill's story fascinated history society member Stella Carpenter and she researched his background using a series of methods, and has compiled a series of display boards which will form part of the exhibition, at Wibsey Methodist Church.

Miss Carpenter said his Polar medals were announced in the London Gazette and were awarded at Buckingham Palace.

"What sparked my interest was that someone went into Wibsey Library and left a book by Chris Bonnington which described the expedition as the last great Polar journey," she said.

"They just don't do things that way any more."

The exhibition is open from 11am until 3.30pm at the church in School Lane and is the first large scale exhibition by the society since 2007.

It will feature about 80 display boards and will also examine the backgrounds of other prominent Wibsey people.