ONE OF Keighley’s best-known foundry men has died at the age of 93.

Thomas Swain rose from teenage apprentice at a Keighley company to become one of the town’s finest moulders and manager of three Yorkshire foundries.

Thomas, who for three decades lived in Cross Hills, remained alert by doing crosswords and Sudoku puzzles.

Mr Swain, known as Tommy or Tom, was born in Hemsworth, South Yorkshire.

He was sent to Keighley at the age of 14 by his father to work in a woollen mill, so he did not have to follow his brothers down the pits.

Two years later Mr Swain became an apprentice at the iron foundry of Ward Haggis Smith, living first in Ingrow then moving with his wife to East Morton then Silsden.

Mr Swain became foreman then manager of well-known Keighley firm Prince Smith and Stells, then Heaton and Flints in Cross Hills.

He managed foundries in Mirfield, Clayton West and Ferrybridge in the 1960s, living near Wakefield with wife, Norma, a registered nurse. The couple ran a newsagents and general store in Wakefield in the 1980s, but after his wife died, Mr Swain returned to live in Cross Hills.

He found it hard to retire so he went back to moulding, working at David Denby’s foundry in Keighley well into his 80s, teaching young apprentices how to mould.

He loved football, being the captain of Keighley Town in the 1940s and also playing for Steeton FC.

Tom was ill for a number of years, affected by prostate cancer, heart failure and eventually renal failure.

Mr Swain’s daughter, Pat Sagar, said her father loved a pint of beer, but never to excess, and his philosophy on life was “man know thyself”.

She said: “Tom was a wonderful father and grandfather.

“The family have lots of memories of happy times together.

“He never let his illnesses get him down and was stoical to the end, dying peacefully aged 93 at home as he had wanted to do.

“His legacy and work ethic continue in his children, who have all been successful in their chosen careers, as well as in his grandchildren.”

Tom is survived by his children – Pat, Kevin and Ken – and six grandchildren.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at St Mark’s Church in Utley on January 22. Everyone is welcome to attend, and donations in lieu of flowers are invited for Prostate Cancer UK.