POPULAR Keighley man ‘Pearly’ Bob Mitchell has died only weeks after a benefit night was held in his honour.

Hundreds of friends had gathered on Boxing Day to raise money for adaptations to help Mr Mitchell get his wheelchair out of his Brontë Drive home.

The former nightclub owner and truck driver had been fighting various forms of cancer for more than 12 months and had undergone three separate operations.

Mr Mitchell, who was recently diagnosed with skin cancer, died of heart failure believed to be a result of having to endure the major operations.

His daughter Samantha this week, paid tribute to the local character who made friends wherever he went.

She said: “He was a totally funny, brilliant, outstanding character, and a fantastic grandad.

“He would talk to anybody and he would know their life story within an hour. Once you’d met him you wouldn’t forget him.

“After he had a heart transplant in 2000 my dad decided he wasn’t wasting his life. He decided to enjoy every single day.”

Keighley-born Mr Mitchell lived his whole life in the town, and spent most of his working life as a long-distance truck driver with Keighley haulage firm Watkinson’s.

In the 1980s he was manager of Bailey’s snooker hall in Worth Way, and later manager of the popular nightclub Champers, now named Berlins, in North Street.

Mr Mitchell was forced to retire from Watkinson’s in 2000, following his heart transplant.

Mr Mitchell had been a keen fisherman and was a long-term supporter of the St Helens rugby league team.

But his main passion was boxing, and for many years he supported tournaments and organised his own bouts on the West Yorkshire circuit.

Many friends and acquaintances from the boxing world attended the Boxing Day benefit at the New Variety Club in Russell Street, organised by long-time friend Mick McGuinness.

The proceeds were intended to provide a ramp outside Mr Mitchell’s home so he and wife Cath could get out with his wheelchair.

The pair could not afford the work themselves because they had spent their savings on a stairlift, bedroom adaptations and travel costs while Mr Mitchell was in hospital.

Mr McGuinness this week said the proceeds would instead be spent on Mr Mitchell’s funeral, which is due to be held tomorrow at Keighley Shared Church at 11.30am, followed by cremation at Oakworth Crematorium, with an event afterwards at the New Variety Club.