A SERVICE of thanksgiving is to be held for former Examiner executive Christopher Dicks.

Mr Dicks died suddenly in early February at the New Zealand home of his youngest daughter, Charlotte.

In 1996 the 77-year-old from Almondbury was honoured by the Queen with the OBE for his work with the newspaper industry.

He had retired the previous year after a lifetime of work with the Examiner.

The service will be held at Waverley United Reformed Church on Waverley Road off New North Road, near Huddersfield town centre, at 2.30pm on Thursday, April 3.

Mr Dicks joined the Examiner in 1951 and served as general manager and director before becoming managing director in 1974.

He later became company chairman.

He was also a former chairman of the Press Association news agency and chairman of the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Since his retirement he devoted time and energy to promoting Huddersfield and its business community.

He leaves a widow, Susan, three children – Stephanie, Robert and Charlotte – and four grandchildren.

A funeral service and cremation took place in New Zealand.