A CHARITY dance is to be held in memory of Huddersfield fundraiser David McLean.

An evening of ballroom and sequence dancing will be held at St Patrick's Centre, New North Parade, on Friday next week as a tribute to Mr McLean, who raised thousands of pounds for charity by organising dances there.

Mr McLean, of Devonshire Street, Lockwood, died on January 10, aged 81. He was a former chairman at the centre.

Some of the charities he helped included the 9/11 New York Firefighters' Fund, the Birkby Fire Appeal, the Red Cross, Leukaemia Research, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the local Army Veterans' Association.

Mr McLean lived in Lockwood for more than 30 years with his wife, Ruth, who died last March aged 94.

The couple had two daughters, who live in Dartford, Kent.

Mr McLean was born near Loch Lomond in Scotland and joined the Army's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He transferred to the Medical Corps and trained as a nurse.

He left the Army after 22 years, then spent 10 years in Australia, where he and his wife did charitable work for the Scottish Ex-Servicemen's Association of Australia.

They moved to Huddersfield to be closer to Mrs McLean's friends. Mr McLean got a nursing job at the Royal Infirmary.

Sean Flood, a St Patrick's Centre member, said Mr McLean had spent his life helping others. He said Mr McLean had planned to raise cash for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a fund to build a new St Brigid's Church at Paddock.

Mr Flood added: "David was a devoted charity worker. He raised a lot of money for local causes. He wanted to raise money for the two causes, so we are going to split the dance profits equally."

The dance will start at 8pm and tickets, priced £3, can be bought on the door or in advance.