Tributes have been paid to a staunch supporter of a Huddersfield charity.

Geoffrey Firth, who was president of the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, has died.

Mr Firth, who was awarded the MBE for his services for training young people in the wire industry, was involved with the project from the outset.

Mr Peter Branson, Chief Executive Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, said: “We are very sad to announce the recent death of our Life President Mr Geoffrey Firth, MBE.

“Geoff supported our founder, Linda Senior, soon after she started the charity, and in 2004 he took up the challenge of continuing to fundraise and to steer the charity as our first chair.

“Through his hard work and dedication to the cause, Geoff was instrumental in laying the foundations of the organisation which became Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

“His influence, alongside our founder, Linda Senior, has led us to where we are today, supporting 189 children with life shortening conditions and their families.

The Forget-Me-Not Children's Hospice, Sheepridge.

“We are immensely grateful to Geoff for everything he has done over many years, and we

offer his family and many friends our deepest condolences.”

Mr Firth’s links with the charitry stretch back to 1997 when he became a trustee with responsibility for the financial accounts and later he became Chairman.

He was married to Patricia, a keen supporter of the Trust, and they have two daughters.

His business career started when he joined Halifax wire firm James Royston Son as Co as a trainee. In 1952, he joined the army serving in East Africa and Kenya after which he rejoined Roystons, gained AICA Accountancy qualification and was appointed Company Secretary in 1956.

Mr Firth was a long-time member of Rotary and became President for the first time in 1969. Since then both he and his wife were active members of Rotary and Inner Wheel.

In 1993 Mr Firth was awarded the MBE for services to training young people in the wire industry. He retired in 1995 for health reasons.

He kept busy with his charitable work and amongst other roles, was a mentor for the Prince’s Trust from 1998 to 2004.