A FORMER members of the Parachute Regiment who worked with young cadets in Bradford has died, following a short illness.

Howard Uttley, 74, was born on Scholemoor estate and went to St Patrick’s School in Westgate. He joined the Parachute Regiment as a boy soldier in the band at Thornbury Barracks and later became a sergeant. When the opportunity to do jungle training in Ghana and peacekeeping missions in Jamaica came up, he left his job at Fields Printers in Bradford.

His Regimental Sergeant Major, Bill Bell, said Mr Uttley was “a popular character with an easy going attitude to life”. As a keen boxer, he was a regular sparring partner with Richard Dunn and appeared on the Bradford boxing legend’s This is Your Life TV programme in 1976.

After leaving the Territorial Army, Howard joined the Army Cadet Force as an instructor with his friend, Drum Major Tony Sweeny, and they formed the Army Cadet Force Corps of Drums at Thornbury. It was a hub for young people to learn music and military skills, and they performed at events around the country.

Mr Uttley dedicated many years to providing cadets with opportunities such as learning survival skills, camping, expeditions and performing at events. He arranged a field trip to Arnhem for young cadets to learn about the role of the Parachute Regiment in the Second World War battle.

Mr Uttley’s late son Dean joined the ACF and his daughter Abigail joined army cadets, following her brother’s footsteps of drumming as well as learning to play the bugle.

After retiring from the building trade, Mr Uttley worked as a driver, taking children with disabilities to and from school. “He was very proud of his role at Falcon Travel, he found his job very rewarding.,” said his daughter, Abigail. “He also spent the last eight years caring for his friend and neighbour who has dementia.”

Mr Uttley appeared in music videos made by Bradford band Issimo, founded by Abigail and her husband Marc. “My dad is the reason I am doing music,” said Abigail. “After university I told him I was to apply for a graduate position at Yorkshire Water and he replied: ‘No, you have to push your singing.’ It’s what I did and my dad, along with my mum, has followed me to every gig and festival since I started. Whether it was helping lads get through their HGV when he was in Para MT department, or taking cadets to perform at events across the UK or supporting Issimo, he just wanted people to flourish and took pride in teaching and mentoring.”

Mr Uttley’s wife, Linda, and Abigail, remember him as “a gentle giant with a wicked sense of humour and huge heart”. The family thank nursing staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary who enabled him to return home for his final days.

The funeral is Thursday, June 11 at 2pm. The cortege will leave Arthur Holdsworth’s Funeral Directors in Wibsey at 1.35pm. Mourners are invited to follow the hearse from St Helena Road to Scholemoor cemetery.