SELF-TAUGHT man of culture Clement Richardson has died aged 94 after giving decades of compassion to people in need.

Mr Richardson, who founded the Bradford Cyrenians charity for homeless men, died peacefully at his Wibsey home, surrounded by family.

He had a colourful life, rising from humble beginnings being brought up by an aunt and moving to Bradford in 1960 to be a tutor at Bradford Institute of Technology which he saw become the University of Bradford and taught there in the Department of Environmental Studies until he retired.

Mr Richardson was a committed supported of the development of the Open University and was external examiner for many local colleges.

In his lifetime he had also had many other careers from from apprentice builder, serving soldier to town planner,

His accomplishments ranged from writing books to building a cow shed and from playing the piano to painting pictures. His interests were even wider ranging, teaching himself several languages including Urdu.

He enjoyed opera, ballet, dance, classical music, art galleries and museums and loved walking with a passion for poetry and philosophy.

Mr Richardson also had a strong sense of duty and civic responsibility and will be remembered for his work as a socialist, joining the Bradford Fabians, founding the Bradford Cyrenians, helping to run the Beadale luncheon club, and lecturing for the Workers' education Association, said his daughter Ednie Wilson.

He served as chairman of Bradford South Labour Party for many years and a ward councillor for Wibsey, proud to support and meet such characters as Harold Wilson and Dennis Healey when they came to Bradford and even presented Harold Wilson with a copy of his own poems.

"This lovely man died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family but across Bradford and beyond there are many more people who will remember the life and times of Clem Richardson, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and colleague," said his daughter Mrs Wilson.

"He will be loved and missed by so many who's lives he enriched through nearly ten decades of compassion."

Mr Richardson's funeral will be at St John the Evangelist in Great Horton on Friday at 9.30am, followed by burial at Scholemoor Cemetery at 10.30am.