BILLY Grayson, of Golcar, a lifelong Huddersfield Methodist Mission stalwart, has died aged 92.

At the mission he had been society steward, senior steward, property steward, church council secretary, trustee and secretary to the trustees.

He was awarded the MBE for his work and the recommendation for his 2007 New Year award read: “Billy’s broader service to the people of Huddersfield is impossible to separate from his life’s work within Huddersfield Methodist Mission.

“First at Queen Street, then King Street and now Lord Street, the mission works with the vulnerable in our community, and Billy has played such a major part in making that work possible.

“He has been committed since childhood to the cause and has served in a very hands-on and practical way in just about every office imaginable.”

In January 2005, on the eve of his 85th birthday he “officially” retired from frontline service at the mission.

At a special lunch and presentation he was honoured with a medal which bore the words: “Billy Grayson – who has glorified God and served the needy.”

He was the only son of Alfred, caretaker for 20 years at the Queen Street Mission.

He was christened at the mission and married Ilma Lockwood there in 1940.

However he regretted he could not be buried there because the building became the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

They had one son, David.

Mr Grayson served with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, the 7th King’s Own Royal Regiment and the Lancashire Fusiliers during the Second World War in Britain, Ireland and India.

After the war he was a bus conductor with Hansons, then for 33 years until retirement was a Midland Bank messenger.

Throughout that time he was an active trade union member.

For more than 25 years he worked for the Royal British Legion. He was secretary of the Shepley branch and a regional officer.

He was active in Huddersfield Polio Fellowship and Huddersfield Guild for the Disabled and served on Huddersfield Community Health Council for six years.

He was a driving force behind the local Men’s Health Forum.

He was a member of Huddersfield Methodist Choir from 1946 and served on its committee. For six years he sang with Huddersfield Glee and Madrigal Society – now The Huddersfield Singers – and later sang with the Huddersfield Over-60s Choir.

Both wife Ilma and son David had died before him.

A funeral service takes place tomorrow at noon at Huddersfield Crematorium.