HENRY Bird who served with the RAF during the Second World War has died aged 91.

Mr Bird, of Ilkley, trained as a rear gunner in Lancaster bombers.

After the war, he studied at Lancaster University and began a career in teaching.

His first posting was at Parkwood School in Keighley.

After a spell working at the Royal Naval School in Singapore during the 1950s, he returned to this area to become headmaster of Oakworth Primary School.

Mr Bird went back to Singapore in 1966, before taking up a headship in Hong Kong and then Germany.

Returning to the UK in 1975, he was appointed headteacher of what was then the country's biggest primary school – Danbury School, in Essex.

When Mr Bird retired, aged 58, he lived in Silsden before moving again – with his late wife, Marie – to East Sussex, when their first granddaughter was born.

Marie died in 1997, after a long illness.

Mr Bird then returned to Yorkshire once again and remarried, to lifelong friend Elizabeth O'Brien. They lived at Ilkley and had been married nearly 19 years.

In his retirement, he helped launch the Victim Support Scheme in Keighley, Ilkley and Shipley, becoming chairman and co-ordinator.

He was among those who helped victims of the Bradford City fire disaster in 1985.

Mr Bird was also an officer in the Royal Observer Corp and a Scout leader.

He was a keen follower of both rugby codes, Yorkshire cricket and Leeds United football club.

In a notice announcing his death, Mr Bird's family said: "He was an avid reader all his life and up to the day he died he would read the paper on his iPad and books on his Kindle.

"He loved time with his family and friends and always stayed as active as he could, enjoying walks along the River Wharfe from Bolton Abbey to Barden Bridge.

"He always had a smile for all those around him.

"In the later days of his life, the carers and the nurses at Airedale Hospital looked after him wonderfully.

"He lived a great life and will be missed by all."

Mr Bird leaves his wife Elizabeth, son Tim, daughter Kate, granddaughters Lucy and Sophie and his younger sister Brenda.

The funeral service took place at St John's Church, Ben Rhydding, yesterday (Jan 18), followed by cremation at Skipton.