A MAN who brightened up a village with thousands of daffodils will be remembered for his passion for gardening.

Mr Thomas Bray, who was 87, lived in a house at Sinking Wood, Brockholes, on the main road to New Mill.

Each spring he would delight thousands of motorists with the glorious show of colour from the thousands of daffodil bulbs he had planted over the years in the woodland garden.

His widow, Kathleen, said: "He has left a legacy which has given pleasure to people for many years.

"Gardening was his absolute life. He had a greenhouse since he was 16 and had featured in gardening magazines and newspapers.

"It was the house he was born in and we bought it in later life. There was nothing in the garden when we went there and he decided to plant bulbs every year."

Mr Bray died after a short illness.

He went to work at the former Moorhouse and Brook mill in New Mill at the age of 14 and spent 52 years working there before his retirement.

Away from his garden he was an official of Wooldale Methodist Free Church. He was a trustee for 32 years.

He and his wife had three children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

His funeral service took place yesterday at Huddersfield Crematorium, followed by a service of blessing at Wooldale Methodist Free Church.