Former submariner Tom Topham has died suddenly on the eve of a naval ceremony at which he was one of the special guests.

Mr Topham, 68, of Tong, Bradford, was president of the West Yorkshire branch of the Submariners Association.

The former quarry director, who was awarded the MBE, has on many occasions donated stone for naval memorials, which have been put up all over the world.

Yesterday, he was to have been present at Plymouth for the unveiling of a life-sized statue of a submariner he had commissioned. But he collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack on the eve of the ceremony.

His daughter Susan Hancock said: "He was at a reception in Plymouth and he said he wasn't feeling too good and had a bit of a sit down, but then felt better and went to get a drink. He just collapsed.

"A doctor - the wife of one of the officers - thumped his chest but there was nothing.

"The paramedics were there within five minutes and they used a defibrillator but there was nothing they could do. I have been told by the people who attended to him that he must have died immediately.

"We are hoping to hold his funeral service in Bradford Cathedral because so many people will want to come.

"One of the naval commanders rang us from Plymouth and asked us if it was OK if they went ahead with the ceremony as planned. They said they would dedicate the service to him."

Mr Topham was director of Park Spring Quarry at Swales Moor, near Queensbury, and donated stone memorials for the victims of the IRA bomb blast in Deal, Kent; for naval submarines lost in service, at Gosport; and for Royal Navy victims killed in the Pacific, at Changi Prison, Singapore.

He is survived by his wife Doreen, children John, Susan and Pamela, and two grandchildren.

sarah.walsh@-bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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