NO other artist in the area has done more to put the old mills and factories of Huddersfield on the map than Tony Haigh, of Dalton.

But after a lifetime of recording the town’s industrial history, he has died in Kirkwood Hospice.

Mr Haigh, 75, was an artist all his life – even though his late father had tried to dissuade him from the path.

He was brought up in Huddersfield and in Ravensthorpe, where his father ran a grocery and provisions store, having previously worked for the Co-op.

The young Tony worked behind the counter after finishing school, delivering groceries to local customers, but then embarked on a career as a salesman with a soap company.

He had a brief spell selling records for EMI and then later worked for Huddersfield Borough Council and Calderdale Council as a school welfare officer.

He was renowned for his work with youth and community groups, especially Deighton Youth Club.

Friend and fellow artist Keith Mountain said: “He was an excellent communicator and loved nothing better than sharing stories with groups of people.”

The pair worked together as artists for many years and in the 1980s set up a gallery in Huddersfield’s Cloth Hall Chambers.

Mr Haigh was fascinated by the old textile mills of Huddersfield, the Colne Valley and Halifax.

He decided to capture in drawings and paintings as many as he could before they were demolished or converted to other uses.

He also worked inside many of Huddersfield’s well-known factories, including Hopkinsons and David Brown Gears.

He also enjoyed painting and drawing many of the old churches and chapels of the area and regularly held exhibitions of his work at local galleries and museums.

Mr Haigh was a member of the Brighouse Art Society for many years and also a regular contributor at other art clubs across West Yorkshire.

He was a past president of Brighouse Rotary Club.

He and his late wife Jean leave two sons, Nigel and Timothy, and he also leaves five grandchildren.

A funeral service takes place on Thursday, July 5, at 9.30am at Dalton St Paul’s Methodist Church in Wakefield Road – behind the stained glass window that he helped to design.

It will be followed by cremation at Huddersfield.