A “tireless” community figure who pioneered and served many organisations in the Ilkley area has died at the age of 88.

Tributes have been coming in from community organisations and residents for Geoffrey Vere MBE, of Kings Road, who died in hospital this week, following a short illness.

Mr Vere was the driving force behind the development and expansion of Ilkley Good Neighbours Scheme, today a charity helping develop services to improve the lives of vulnerable members of the community.

Born in Keighley in 1924, Mr Vere attended Keighley Grammar School. During the Second World War he became a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary for more than four years, ending with the rank of Chief Radio Officer.

After working at Peter Blacks Ltd for six months, he trained as a chiropodist, set up practice in Ilkley and later become a fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine.

Mr Vere joined the Round Table, and, through his contact with elderly people, started Ilkley Senior Citizens’ Club. On leaving Round Table, he set about creating many organisations, both in Ilkley and beyond, such as Age Concern Bradford and District, branches of Victim Support, and Wharfe Valley Neighbourhood watch.

He is also widely known for designing the Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley, of which he was founder chairman.

Mr Vere was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to the community of Ilkley.

He held presidencies or took senior roles with organisations including Ilkley Old Folks Club – now Ilkley Senior Citizens, Ilkley Old People’s Welfare Committee, Ilkley and District Round Table, the West Yorkshire Branch of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, Ilkley Old People’s Welfare, Ardenlea, Airedale Community Health Council, Ilkley CVS, Bradford Metro CVS, Keighley Crime Prevention and Ilkley Help the Aged.

He was life vice-president of both Ilkley Camera Club and Ilkley and District Good Neighbours, founder and chairman of Ilkley Community Fund, founder and president of The New Horizons Concert Orchestra, and was life honorary member of Ilkley Olicana 41 Club.

Between 2009 and 2012 he was chairman of Ilkley Flower Show.

He leaves his wife, Rosemary, and daughter, Annabel, son-in-law, Mark, and grandson, Andrew.

Mr and Mrs Vere recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Keen supporter of Yorkshire community organisations, Baroness Lockwood, who lives in Addingham, paid tribute to Mr Vere’s contribution to local schemes. She said: “Geoffrey was a great initiator of projects which were of tremendous value to the community.”

Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, ward and parish councillor, Mike Gibbons, said he knew and worked with Mr Vere for more than 30 years.

“He was so much a part of the fabric of Ilkley life and worked tirelessly to improve the life of others,” said Councillor Gibbons.

“I often used to ask myself, how does one man manage to do so much? It was a pleasure, privilege and an honour to have known him.”

Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Heathcliffe Bowen, said he owed Mr Vere “a great deal”, having started his career with the Good Neighbours in 1992 before going on to work for Bradford Children’s Services.

He said: “I’m deeply saddened, I think there’ll be a lot of organisations that will feel the effect of it. he was involved with so many things across the community.”

Heather Chapman, who volunteered as a secretary to Mr Vere, said: “Geoffrey has left a great legacy to Ilkley. We will remember him through his contribution to our society. It’s been a privilege to have worked with him for so many years.”