Demolition work has almost been completed at the University of Huddersfield sports hall.

But for one Huddersfield man, it was a moment tinged with sadness.

For Raymond Wilson was the man who built the hall some 46 years ago.

He was a foreman with the Huddersfield building form of John Radcliffe and Sons and remembers the six-month build on what was then the site of Huddersfield Polytechnic.

He recalls how they worked through the winter on the building, with work starting in October 1967 and the hall being opened in March 1968.

“When I saw they were starting to demolish it, I went along to the site”, said Mr Wilson, 80, of Fernside Avenue, Almondbury.

“I had a chat with the guy in charge and told him I was the man who put it up.

“There was a pang or two or regret”.

Mr Wilson, who was brought up in Leeds, moved to Huddersfield after training as a joiner and one of his first jobs was on the offices for the former ICI complex in Leeds Road.

Take a look at our archive pictures of Huddersfield from the air.

He also worked on a number of other well-known buildings in the town including Norwich Union House in High Street, part of Civic Centre I, the former Huddersfield Technical College in New North Road, the Pack Horse Centre and the former Regent Printers building in Wakefield Road, Aspley.

He spent 27 years working with the Leeds Road-based firm before retiring 15 years ago.

Demolition contractors are now clearing the site which will be landscaped for the forseeable future. The sports hall has been replaced by a state of the art new complex.

University chiefs are awaiting permission from Kirklees Council to demolish the adjoining Brunswick Building and plan a major development on the whole site, overlooking Shorehead roundabout.

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