Obituaries from the Craven Herald

Richard Edgar Ayrton, 82, died suddenly on holiday in Scarborough after watching his other passion in life - Yorkshire Cricket Club.

The local farming community and those who knew him will miss his trademark smile and wicked sense of humour.

Born in Skipton on November 29 1923, Mr Ayrton had lived at Bower House Farm, Eastby, since 1931 and was never a man to take a back seat.

He attended Otley Street School where his grandfather was headmaster, then Embsay School and Ermysted's Grammar School.

He could not wait to leave and start his farming career on his father's farm.

His father's pedigree Friesians were one of the best pedigree herds in the district and his Hawbank herd was well respected among the dairy farming community.

The legacy passes on to his son, Andrew, to continue the family business.

Farming was his passion and Mr Ayrton was still working and rising at 6.30am each day right up to his death.

His other passion in life was Yorkshire Cricket Club.

Mr Ayrton only ever missed one Scarborough Cricket Festival - the year he married his wife of 46 years, Joyce.

He spent the last day of his life watching his team at Scarborough Festival and remarked that it was one of the best days of cricket he had ever seen.

A funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, Embsay, today.

Mr Ayrton is survived by his wife Joyce, sons Mark, Philip and Andrew, sister Margaret, daughters-in-law Kath and Louise, and grandchildren Lauren, Tom, Harry, Molly and Phoebe.

Mr Tony Jones

A FORMER landlord who pulled pints in South Craven for nearly 30 years has died of cancer.

Tony Jones, 73, died last Wednesday at Manorlands hospice after battling the disease for six months.

Mr Jones ran the New Inn at Cononley for 25 years until he and his wife, Jean, retired and moved to Spain.

He was diagnosed with cancer and underwent an operation in Spain. The couple moved back to this country three months ago.

Mr Jones' family ran the Goat's Head at Steeton for 30 years and he used to stand on a buffet to clean the pumps as a boy. He took over the pub when he was just 28, making him the youngest licensee in the Skipton Licensed Victuallers' Association.

He moved to the New Inn some three years later, where he met Joan, who was a regular, and the couple were married for 27 years. He leaves a daughter, Paula Watson, and step-sons Philip and Roland Hall.

Mrs Jones said: "He was a larger than life character, with an outgoing personality - everything that was required of a good landlord and a good husband. He was my best friend, he was just a good bloke. He would help anybody if he possible could. I would just like to thank everyone who has helped in my hour of need."

A funeral service was held at St John's Church, Cononley, on Monday.

Mrs Joyce Clarke

THERE was chocolate cake for tea and more besides as family, friends and relatives gathered at Hetton Methodist chapel for the funeral of Joyce Clarke.

Joyce was a regular worshipper at the chapel and lived just 100 yards away in the house she moved to 29 years ago with her husband, Frank.

She came to the Dales having spent most of her life in the South of Yorkshire.

She was born in Sheffield and met Frank when they were just 16 at a Stocksbridge Congregational Church, near Sheffield.

They continued to see each other during the war years when she worked in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

She married in 1944 in Stocksbridge and was a loving and devoted wife of 62 years to her husband, Frank, who survives her.

After the war Frank started to work in his uncle's butchers shop in Stocksbridge, which he later took over and Joyce took care of their only daughter, Angela, and helped in the shop.

They moved to Hetton to be near Angela and her family, when they moved to the Dales, and have stayed there ever since.

Joyce attended Hetton Methodist Church and her faith gave her great comfort and strength.

She was a great letter and card writer and always gave great advice and shared all her wisdom with her family and friends.

She also loved baking, her chocolate cakes being a particular delight, which she would give away to those she thought did not get the benefits of great baking.

Well-wishers brought their own chocolate cakes and more, baked in her memory, to the chapel for a sumptuous tea after the funeral in memory of Joyce, who will be remembered as a generous and kind-hearted person, always willing to put others first.

She was an extra special mother to Angela, son-in-law Charles, and Angela's first husband, John, who sadly died in 1998.

She shared a close relationship and dearly loved her grandchildren, Rachel and Matthew, and their spouses, Neil and Georgina. Joyce also enjoyed spending time with her four great-grandchildren Emma, Harry, Helena and Kristina.

She was also a caring sister to her late elder brother, Ron, and her younger brother, Rex, and she loved their families dearly.

Joyce appreciated the help and support from all her family, neighbours and friends and will be sadly missed by many.

She passed away peacefully and free from pain at Airedale General Hospital aged 86.

Miss Dorothy Platt

A FORMER typist and office worker at the Craven Herald died on Sunday, at the age of 102.

Dorothy Platt was born in Skipton on August 22 1904 and attended Brougham Street Primary School and later Skipton Girls' High School.

Her working career included Fattorini's Jewellers, manageress at Murphy's Household Stores in the town and then at the Herald offices where she stayed until retirement.

Her father's family came from Skipton, while her mother, one of the Redmayne family, was from Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

She also had relatives in Hebden and several cousins in Arncliffe.

Dorothy never married, but did have a boyfriend who was killed in the Second World War.

She had a brother, Edgar, who died aged 93, and a sister Bessie, who died aged 95.

Dorothy had been living at Anley Hall, Settle, for the past six years.

A funeral service will be held at the chapel at Waltonwrays, Skipton, on Monday September 18 at 10.20am.