Tributes paid to Keighley teacher Paul Greenwood (From Keighley News)

Tributes paid to Keighley teacher Paul Greenwood

2:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

A former Keighley teacher has died aged 83.

Paul Greenwood taught at Keighley Boys Grammar School until 1959 before moving on to lecture in music at Bingley teacher training college.

He had trained as a musician at Manchester Royal College of Music, and performed on the cello with orchestra and theatre bands, arranging music for choirs and chamber groups.

He conducted firstly Skipton and then Keighley Orchestra, and also followed in his father Harry’s footsteps, becoming choirmaster at Ebenezer Methodist Chapel in Cross Hills.

Leaving Bingley College, he became music advisor for Leeds Education Department, and continued to arrange and conduct Leeds Youth Orchestra until his retirement.

Mr Greenwood, who lived in Skipton, was also an author. His novel Unwillingly to School, written under the name of Paul Barry and inspired by his work as a teacher, was published in 1961.

He wrote another book in 1998 – The Second Battle of the Marne – while researching his father’s life.

A family spokesman said: “Following the death of his first wife, Carmel, he remarried happily in 1984 to Jean, who has been of great comfort and support to Paul and his family in his final years of declining health.

“Paul, though modest and self-deprecating, was a cultured man, whose interests were many and wide-ranging.

“He was lively company, witty, always had a joke ready and was a wonderful mimic.

“He travelled widely, often to the frustration of other motorists whose impatient journeys would be impeded by the leisurely progress of his caravan.

“Paul will be remembered most for his deep humanity. A kind and thoughtful man, he is survived by his extensive first and second families and the many hundreds of people upon whose lives he had such a positive influence.”

A funeral service to celebrate his life was held at St Peter’s Methodist Church in Cross Hills on Monday.