A MAN who was the cornerstone of village life in Bolton Abbey has died peacefully at the age of 87.

Arthur Donald Wood, known as Donald, was a remarkable man noted for his kindness, wit and his amazing memory for names, faces and facts. Born into a large family in Dacre Banks, Nidderdale, he worked for the family firm of R Wood and Sons, who ran a blacksmiths, taxis and petrol station. Donald had a hand in just about everything in the business, including working in the smithy.

His skills with the fire and hammer created ornamental ironwork for Bolton Priory and at many churches including Hull, Queensbury, Dagenham and Pinner. He also made vast numbers of shoes for mules used in Burma during the war.

Donald and his wife, Joyce, enjoyed many happy years together until her death in the 1980s. He was church warden at the priory and a dedicated parish councillor for many years, serving on many committees in Bolton Abbey (22 at one time) where his good head for figures meant he was invariably the treasurer.

His past achievements included helping to organise village celebrations for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, her silver wedding and jubilee.

People put their trust in Donald and he was executor of many wills and on hand as an expert letter writer for anyone who needed his services.

Donald was one of those men who spoke less and thought more, but used his humour, dry wit and wisdom as a much-in-demand public speaker.

His extraordinary memory of events and details meant he never had to make up jokes, he simply recounted amusing anecdotes from his life to delight audiences.

His memory also meant he knew just about everybody in Bolton Abbey, and their families, even those in remote areas. And he used it to recount his love of Shakespeare sonnets, plays and poetry, often reciting apt pieces at the drop of a hat.

Donald was always interested in local people and what their concerns were.

In 1996 he published a book about Bolton Abbey which focused on his family, prominent members of the village, and the life of others in the 1920s and 30s.

His hobbies included fly fishing, taught to him by his brother, angling legend Harry Wood. Donald also passed down his knowledge of the art to countless others as a patient teacher.

He also dabbled in oil painting, although he never thought much of his own creations, preferring instead to delight in the work of local and national artists.

Donald was a gourmet when it came to food, although good Yorkshire home cooking always went down the best. He often recounted a tale of when he was working for the equerry of King George V during a shoot.

A dog had eaten his sandwiches, and hearing of this the King sent food from his own table rather than have Donald go hungry.

He loved his Ferryhouse home, but spent his final days in ward eight at Airedale Hospital, and at Currergate Nursing Home, Steeton. A funeral service will be held at Bolton Priory on June 26, followed by private cremation.