Family members have paid tribute to former nightclub owner Philip Lewis who ran the Mayflower in Bradford.

Mr Lewis began his career as a stonemason in the West Indies before emigrating to Britain.

He arrived in Bradford in the 1950s from Dominica in the Caribbean, and found work at engineering firm Croft’s, before moving to Smith and Fawcett.

He earned enough to buy his first home on Howard Street, Little Horton, Bradford, in which he lived with his wife, Clarice, and their four children.

As well as the six in his family, he also rented out some of his rooms to people in need including fellow immigrants from the West Indies.

But his big break came in 1978 when he and a friend struck it lucky on the football pools.

His son, Bernard Lewis, said: “My dad and his friend, Ginger, won the pools and got around £8,000 each. Initially he thought about buying a new house but I suggested he put it into a nightclub instead.

“The Mayflower used to be the old Railwaymen’s Club at the bottom of Grosvenor Road.

“Because it was a family-run business a lot of people saw it as their second home.

“If people didn’t have any money, my mother and father would still get them a drink and something to eat.”

The club was hugely popular, not just with the West Indian community but also the white and Asian people.

It drew crowds from across West Yorkshire. Mr Lewis ran the club until 1992 when he handed it over to Bernard, his youngest son.

Bernard said: “He was a hard worker. He and his friends used to work seven days a week then get dressed up and go out dancing or around to each other’s houses. He was a very caring, helpful man.”

Mr Lewis died peacefully at home after a long illness at 75 on Monday. A Requiem Mass will be held at St Joseph’s Church, Pakington Street, on Thursday at 11am.