A MUSICIAN has celebrated his diamond anniversary as a church organist.
Lawrence Smith started to play the organ at Moldgreen United Reformed Church in 1943, taking over from his father.
Now he has just celebrated 60 years in the role.
The minister, the Rev George Courtney, said: "Lawrence is wonderful, both as a person and an organist.
"He has given excellent service to the church over very many years.
"He plays at all the services along with weddings, baptisms and funerals."
Mr Smith said: "I get enormous enjoyment out of playing the organ and have done throughout my playing career."
In 1950 he was a founder member of Moldgreen Congregational Church Amateur Operatic Society and played the piano for many of its Gilbert and Sullivan productions.
His father, Robert Henry Smith, started to teach him to play the piano when he was five and the organ at 16.
Robert had played at churches all over Huddersfield. He emigrated to Australia in 1922 where he was organist at the Dorcas Street Presbyterian Church.
He returned to Huddersfield a couple of years later and died in 1953 aged just 57.
The new Moldgreen United Reformed Church replaced the old one on the same site in 1989 when Wakefield Road was widened.
Mr Smith and his wife, Joyce, have been married for 53 years and live in Almondbury.
They have two children, Martyn and Caroline, and four grandchildren, Jason, Nadege, Tom and Joey.
Mr Smith worked as a planning engineer for Birkby firm Hopkinsons valve manufacturers for 32 years and was a piano teacher for many years.
A special service was held at Moldgreen United Reformed Church to mark his achievement, followed by a lunch for 90 people.
