ALFRED Hirst will be remembered by many people as the man who brought typewriters to Huddersfield.

Mr Hirst, of Brighouse, died after a short illness, just weeks after his 97th birthday.

He was born in 1906 in Huddersfield.

In 1927, at the age of 21, he became a partner in his father's firm, W H Hirst and Son.

The firm, based at Leeds Road, dealt in typewriters.

Because the machine was a new invention, Hirsts had to provide people to operate the machines for customers.

So the firm started Huddersfield's first typing school, which later extended its teachings to include shorthand.

In 1934, Mr Hirst married his wife, Myra, at Newsome Parish Church.

They were married for 62 years. Mrs Hirst died in 1996.

The couple had two sons, Edwin and Gordon, who joined the family business in the 1950s.

In 1969, W H Hirst and Son expanded into supplying office equipment after merging with Wheatley, Dyson and Son, part of the Examiner group.

Shortly after the merger, Mr Hirst retired. He and his wife moved from Almondbury to Toothill Avenue, Brighouse.

During his retirement, he indulged his passion for holidays in France and Switzerland.

He spoke French and Esperanto fluently.

His other hobbies included playing chess for Huddersfield YMCA, table tennis, cricket and golf.

He was a member of Woodsome Hall Golf Club for 75 years, until he finally put away his clubs at the age of 95.

He won the Captain's Prize trophy at Woodsome Hall in 1933.

His two sons, two of his grandsons and his two great-grandsons are still members at Woodsome Hall.

Mr Hirst also captained Longley Park Golf Club twice and was a trustee for 30 years.

He used to have a handicap of six and played off 24 when he finally retired from golf.

Mr Hirst's other passion was motoring. He got his first motorbike at 14 and bought his first car at 21.

He never had to pass a driving test, because he got his licence before 1935, when the exam became compulsory.

He loved automatic cars; all but one of the vehicles he owned from 1958 on were automatics.

Mr Hirst is survived by his two sons and their wives, his four grandsons, two grand- daughters-in-law and three great-grandchildren.