A FORMER Ilkley schoolboy is among one thousand new entries in the 2004 edition of the famous people reference book Who's Who.

Churchman Peter Hughes, who was born in Ilkley, has been included after his appointment as the Archdeacon of Bedford.

From his home in Luton he told the Gazette that he was born at St Winifred's Maternity Home at the junction of Wells Road and Crossbeck Road. The building was later taken over by Ilkley College before being converted into flats.

He attended Moorfield School on Ben Rhydding Road, then known as Miss Thorpe's school, before moving to Ghyll Royd School on Grove Road.

The family lived in Sedbergh Park, off Cowpasture Road, before moving to King's Road. His parents, Reg and Eileen Hughes were actively involved in St Margaret's Church on Queen's Road. He said that people in the town would remember them and also his younger sister, Catherine.

Mr Hughes completed his secondary education at Pocklington School in East Yorkshire and in the holidays his interest in surveying was encouraged by spending periods of doing work experience at Dacre, Son and Hartley estate agent on Wells Road.

He qualified as a chartered surveyor and spent five years doing that job between 1974 and 1979, but the pull of the church became too strong.

After training he began as a curate at Chipping Barnet and later became team vicar at Dunstable. The Venerable Paul Hughes, 50, was appointed Archdeacon last year.

Mr Hughes's parents retired to the south coast after moving to Hertfordshire from Ilkley in 1969. His mother died two years ago and his father passed on last year.

A former member of St Margaret's choir, Mr Hughes said he had always been involved with the church.

Of his career change, he said: "It was just a realisation that I would like to give it a go." Since then he has not looked back.

On his appointment as Archdeacon he said: "I was overwhelmed to be asked to do the job and I found it a huge privilege to be able to do it."

Ironically, his induction course for the role of Archdeacon led him almost back to his birthplace.

The course took place in Leeds, giving Mr Hughes time to come back and visit Ilkley with a friend.

He said: "I had many happy memories of my time in Ilkley and as I stood on the Calf at the Cow and Calf rocks, it brought it all back to me."

His wife Liz is also deeply involved in the work of the church. She is chaplin to the Hospice of St Francis at berkhamstead.

In his Who's Who entry, Mr Hughes lists his recreations as 'music, amateur operatics, walking and reading. He is married to Liz and has two children, Chris, 17, and Nicola 15.

Who's Who contains potted biographies of 32,000 of the most famous, richest and most influential people in the land.

Mr Hughes is rubbing shoulders with some colourful characters such as fugitive Lord Lucan, still in the book despite his mysterious disappearance; and disgraced peer Lord Archer, who has updated his entry to included mention of his 2002 publication: 'A Prison Diary.

Other new entries this year are Two Fat Ladies star Clarissa Dickson-Wright, marathon world record holder Paula Ratcliffe and ITN news reader Katie Derham. Who's Who is published today priced £135.