A founder member of Ilkley Concert Club and well-known figure in the local community has died at the age of 83.

Barry Lambert, who was christened Barrington but hardly ever used the name, worked for many years as a haematologist, and took an active role in community organisations.

Born and brought up in Ilkley, Mr Lambert attended Ilkley Grammar School, where he was said to have enjoyed chemistry, and been happiest in the school science lab.

Having taken up piano lessons, he became a founding member of Ilkley Concert Club as a teenager, and went on to serve on its organising committee. Mr Lambert attracted some attention in his youth, with his enthusiasm for home-made fireworks. These he made from the contents of unexploded incendiary bombs and flares, which he and a friend found on the moor.

Notable incidents including his mother losing her eyebrows when he persuaded her to hold one of his home-made fireworks. His exploits also came to the attention of the local policeman, when he set the contents of a flare alight on Colbert Avenue, melting the Tarmac.

In more recent times, however, he has been known among his friends for a spectacular bonfire night display.

Mr Lambert left school at 17, and decided to join the Royal Army Medical Corps, preparing for a career in medicine, when he was called up for National Service.

But he found himself looking after sniffer dogs and learning to ride horses being trained for the Household Cavalry, after the handwriting on his application saw ‘RAMC’ mistaken for ‘RAVC’, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

Following national service, he got a job as a laboratory technician at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where he specialised in haematology.

There he met one of the sisters in a neighbouring ward, Margaret Pearson. The two met in 1961 and were married in 1963.

Mr Lambert worked as a haematologist until retiring early at the age of 59.

He was also known to many Ilkley people as a member of Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club, where he once played in the first team, and through his membership of Ilkley Badminton Club, where he coached younger players.

Mr Lambert leaves his wife Margaret, their children, Joanne and Roger, and seven grandchildren.