A “SELF-MADE” businessman who helped safeguard the future of rugby and cricket in Bingley has died following a sudden illness.

Ron Craven, 78, of Micklethwaite, Bingley, died while on holiday in Florida last month.

Around two years ago he stepped in when the then Bradford and Bingley Sports Club was struggling, in a bid to ensure sport could still be played at the Wagon Lane site.

His own history of playing rugby there meant it was a cause close to his heart and led to the creation of the Craven Family Trust to offer long-term security when a question mark was hanging over the club’s future.

His son Lee Craven, 48, said: “I think that will be an enduring legacy.

“He said to me his happiest times were playing rugby down there.”

It’s now hoped the trust, and the site, will be developed for the future.

The late Mr Craven grew up in Bingley and was the eldest of five children.

His son described him as a “self-made man” and said the untimely death of his father, Fred, in 1966 perhaps played a part in his drive, determination and fearlessness.

He was one of the last people to be called up to the RAF for National Service. During that time, he played a lot of rugby and began to play for Bingley in around 1959.

He and his wife Molly, 76, married in 1965 after meeting at The Gaumont, which would later become the Odeon cinema, in 1961.

It’s a story made all the more poignant for Lee, as he is spearheading efforts to transform the iconic building into a live music venue.

After his stint in the RAF, Mr Craven began an apprenticeship in cloth designing at Salts Mill, Saltaire, and then worked for a lining company until 1983.

But after becoming unhappy with the way the company was moving, he decided to strike out on his own and founded the Great Horton-based Jessgrove, which began life as a distributor of linings to the UK garment industry.

The business, which is still running today and which Mr Craven was still managing director of until his death, went from strength to strength and expanded across Europe.

In the 1970s, Mr Craven was also involved in the campaign to stop plans for a motorway through Bingley.

“He was not intimidated by anything, if he felt what he was doing was right,” his son said.

“He was a very modest man - a man of simple pleasures.”

Mr Craven leaves his wife, two children and seven granddaughters.

His funeral will be held at 10.50am tomorrow at Nab Wood Crematorium.