A BENCH and two plaques have been unveiled at a Kirkburton pub in memory of a much-loved villager.

John Chaplin died on July 8, 2004, after suffering a stroke.

But now his memory will live on with a special bench at the Royal.

Sue Chaplin, John's widow, said: "His friends in the local pub wanted to do something so people would remember him.

"He was very well liked and so we had a benefit night last May. It's taken until now to get the plaques."

The benefit night raised more than £1,300.

A portion of the money was put towards the parish church restoration fund.

One of the plaques contains John's image. On the second plaque there is a poem which was read out at his funeral.

Sue added: "It was all organised by Michael Roberts, who was a good friend of my husband.

"It was he who found the bench and sorted all the plaques out."

Royal licensee Catherine Haigh said: "John used to come into my pub so regularly. He was such a very close friend of all of us here - including my dog Bob.

"They both loved each other to death.

"John used to love to sit there in his shorts and take in the sun. That's why we have put the bench in the car park.

"You couldn't have wished to meet a nicer man."