A MAN who made his name in both the business and the sporting worlds has died.

Harry Micklethwaite died at his home at Kitchenroyd, Denby Dale, aged 83 on February 23.

He was born in Kirkburton and always saw himself as a "Burtoner" despite living much of his life in Skelmanthorpe and at his present home near Denby Dale.

He was always interested in sport and represented the village of his birth both at football and cricket. In later life he became an accomplished golfer.

He was held in such high esteem that he held the office of president at both Kirkburton and Skelmanthorpe Cricket Clubs.

It was in the world of print that he achieved most fame. He served one company throughout his working life and piloted it to its position as one of the top six business form producers in the United Kingdom.

Little would he have thought when he was pedalling his pushbike the four or so miles to Cuttlehurst Mills at Scissett that he would have achieved such fame.

Hirst Buckley, a company that bore the founder's name, was established in 1899. It was carried on by Buckley's two sons and had established modest growth.

It had all started with a small Arabian printing machine that still holds pride of place as a museum piece in the reception area of the present company.

It is highly likely that Harry operated that machine in between making tea and running errands for his colleagues in his early days.

He went on to operate every machine in the building.

He served in the RAF during World War Two and on his return to civvy street he was back at Hirst Buckley, where he eventually became managing director.

He was chairman of the Institute of Printers and on the committee of the Printers Charity Corporation.

His interest in sport continued with his active support of the Hirst Buckley football team that set the District League alight in the mid 1960s.

Hirst Buckley joined Roneo Vickers and Harry reached the zenith of his business career by being invited to join the main Vickers board.

The company had a big setback on July 2 1973 with a major fire that destroyed much of Cuttlehurst Mill.

Business continued and within two years there was a brand new factory at Park Mill that contained all the new generation of printing machines.

A change of policy by Vickers saw Harry looking for a new home for the company and in February 1984 it joined John Waddingtons of Monopoly fame.

He celebrated his golden wedding on May 15, 1998 but sadly lost his wife, Phyllis a short while afterwards.

The couple had one daughter, Anne.