BRIAN CLAY was a postmaster with an entrepreneurial touch.

He spent several spells as a sub-postmaster in Huddersfield and other parts of West Yorkshire - and diversified into other businesses.

He was born in Slaithwaite in 1929 and served with the RAF in Egypt after the Second World War.

Mr Clay worked in the stores at St Luke's Hospital, Crosland Moor, and then paid wages for the former Huddersfield Corporation education department before he became a sub-postmaster.

He set up Bradley Post Office on Bradley Road in 1959 and a few years later set up a hairdressing salon upstairs.

He also established another hairdressing business, Edwina, in the old Huddersfield Market Hall.

In 1969 his business interests totally changed.

He left the post office and joined his brother-in-law, Joss Heap, running Albert Haigh's vehicle dismantling business in Firth Street, near Huddersfield town centre. He realised the value of personalised car number plates and soon formed his own collection.

In 1981, he became sub-postmaster at one in Knottingley, near Castleford, and incorporated a shoe shop in it.

But the family did not settle and moved to Newsome.

In 1984, Mr Clay became a sub postmaster again, this time on Lumb Lane in Bradford. He earned a bravery award for foiling an armed robbery bid.

He designed and built his dream home in Bradley and things came full circle when he became sub-postmaster at Bradley again.

He won a second bravery award for thwarting another armed robbery.

Mr Clay, who was 74, was a former treasurer of the Huddersfield branch of the Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

He retired from Bradley Post Office in 1992 after suffering from pancreatitis.

Mr Clay studied for six years and achieved a Bachelor of Science honours degree from the Open University. He also became a prison visitor and a governor at Crosland Moor Junior School.

He died after complications following an operation at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

Before his death he nominated his long-time friend, Marsden sub-postmaster William Pinder, for the customer care award at the Examiner Community Awards.

Mr Pinder won the award.

Mr Clay was married to Pat for more than 50 years and leaves two children, John and Christine, and four grandchildren.

Christine said: "He was a selfless, popular man, with many friends. He was a person of real character."