A FORMER Keighley News journalist has died aged 78.

Barry Wood started as a general reporter on the KN before moving to the Telegraph & Argus and the Yorkshire Sports as rugby league reporter, covering Bradford Northern when the club reformed in 1964.

He became the Daily Sketch's rugby league correspondent in 1968, working for that newspaper for three years until its merger with the Daily Mail in 1971, and was then employed at Leeds-based Gosnays Sports Agency until his retirement in 1996.

A noted musician, he played the trombone with the Gordon Tetley Big Band, the Bill Cross Orchestra and the Leeds Dance Orchestra.

Keighley-born Mr Wood was not a band leader, but often stepped up to the plate to keep groups going.

A treasurer with the Gordon Tetley Band, which performed at the Brown Cow in Bingley and the Spotted House and the Dubrovnik Hotel in Bradford among other places, he had played the trombone as a youngster before giving it up, only to be inspired by Stan Kenton and taking it up again in later life.

Mr Wood leaves a wife Frances, children and grandchildren, and his funeral will be at Oakworth Crematorium tomorrow (May 15), at 1pm, followed by a celebration of his life at nearby Newsholme Manor Restaurant.