A third-generation funeral director will have his coffin carried into church by six Bradford undertakers as a poignant sign of respect when family and friends say their final farewells to him tomorrow.

David Birch, of Nab Wood’s H H Birch & Son died at the weekend in hospital in his sleep aged 74. Tributes have remembered him as “a perfectionist” and having “a unique sparkle”.

His wife Janine said he had left a void that would never be filled. The couple, who lived in Jenny Lane, Baildon, for 30 years had been married for more than half a century after meeting as school sweethearts.

“He was the love of my life,” she said.

Friends and family, including Mr Birch’s two daughters, will gather at St John’s Church in Baildon at 1.30pm.

Donations in his memory will go to the Vascular Research Fund at Bradford Hospital Foundation Trust as a thank you for the care he was given.

Mr Birch, who will have organised thousands of funerals during his career, had twice cheated death, surviving a major heart attack on a day trip to Blackpool and then surgery to remove a timebomb aneurysm. In recent times he developed other health problems, becoming wheelchair-bound and eventually succumbing to pneumonia.

Although Mr Birch had retired in his sixties, he never let go of the business that celebrated its centenary in 2003 and was started by his grandfather Herbert Henry.

“He kept a watchful eye over everything. He couldn’t let go. It had been his life forever,” said Mrs Birch who worked alongside her husband for many years. “He was dedicated to the people who came to him for help, but he was also a wonderful family man. He never let anyone down.

H H Birch’s manager Desmond Jackson, who took over from Mr Birch, said: “All of us here have said working with David was the happiest times of our working lives.

“He was such a true gentleman. It will be difficult for us on Friday, but we will make sure it’s a great send-off for one of Baildon’s greatest sons.”