A DISTINGUISHED education administrator and former sports correspondent for BBC Radio Leeds has died just six days short of his 68th birthday.

Former Elland man, David Grant Wadsworth, was found dead by his partner Jocelynne on Christmas Eve.

He is thought to have suffered a heart attack.

After attending South End Junior School, Elland, Mr Wadsworth went to Hipperholme Grammar School, where he was head boy, before studying at Oriel College, Oxford, obtaining a BA Hons degree in preparation for an intended career as a teacher.

Mr Wadsworth joined Elland Cricket Athletic and Bowling Club as a junior, becoming first eleven captain in 1976, the second of three successive seasons in which Elland were runners-up to Holmfirth in both the Huddersfield League Championship and the Sykes Cup Competition.

Whilst at Hipperholme Grammar School, he began playing rugby union, and his knowledge of both union and cricket proved useful later when one of his hobbies was broadcasting on both codes for BBC Radio Leeds.

He had an extensive cricket library at his home and was a member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Rugby Football Union and recently in his retirement he had been working on a complete revision of the constitution of Cambridge University Rugby Union Club.

Just three weeks before his death, he had also accepted an appointment as secretary of the club.

His career as a teacher began in Gloucestershire, followed by a period in Blackpool at the independent Arnold School, but he then made a career switch to administration firstly with Leeds City County Education Department before moving to become Deputy Director of Education for Northumberland County Council, followed by an appointment as Chief Education Officer with Bedfordshire County Council.

Mr Wadsworth’s final career appointment was as Chief Executive for British Forces Schools Overseas, based in Monchengladbach, Germany, retiring three years ago after 11 years’ service.

Other honours he won included an honorary doctorate in education from De Montfort University, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, one of France’s highest honours and the Cavaliere dell’Ordine Al Merito della Republica Italiana, the Italian equivalent of being knighted.

Any references regarding Mr Wadsworth always contained one for his fondness of Epicurean delights.