AN OAKWORTH resident who was a well known figure on the Keighley and Worth Valley sports scene has died.

Norman Bairstow, 78, who owned a sports shop in Keighley, died on January 15. He had recently undergone an operation for a lung tumour, and although he was initially well enough to leave hospital his condition deteriorated shortly afterwards.

His son, Duncan, said: “Anyone local who was into sport would have known my dad, especially people from the Ingrow to Oxenhope end of the valley. He was always happy, always had time for people and he liked to chat about earlier times.”

Mr Bairstow was born in Haworth and lived most of his life in Cross Roads. He had been living in Oakworth since 2011. He trained as an electrician and was first employed at Towler Electricians, in Keighley, before spending at least 10 years with Yorkshire Electricity Board. Mr Bairstow married Elaine Hargreaves in 1964. They had two sons, Duncan and Graham. The funeral service is at St James Church, Cross Roads, at 12.15pm on Friday.