A FORMER Keighley teacher who also captained the town's rugby union and cricket clubs has died.

Frank Wellock, who was 97, taught PE and games at the old Keighley Boys' Grammar School – later Oakbank – for nearly four decades.

He had previously been a pupil at the school.

Apart from two years in the town when he first married, Mr Wellock lived his entire life in Cross Hills.

He and his wife, Sarah, returned to her childhood home at High Malsis Farm – near Glusburn – to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with their family ten years ago.

Sarah died six months later, but Mr Wellock continued to live in Park Road, until he moved to nearby Beanlands Nursing Home three years ago.

His son, Tim, said his father liked to reminisce about batting with Eddie Paynter – the Lancashire and England cricketer who played for Keighley during the war.

"If they were in a run chase before catching the bus home Paynter would say 'thee just stop there lad, I'll get these'," said Tim.

"Keighley was one of the top Bradford League sides in those days, winning the title in 1946. They used to play Priestley Cup finals to a finish, with no overs restrictions. With weather interruptions, they apparently went back every evening for almost two weeks to get one finished.

"Dad played three times for the Yorkshire rugby team and felt he would have won more caps had he made more effort to fit in with the blazered officials.

"He also played rugby for Skipton, which was a strong club then, and finished his cricketing days with Glusburn."

Mr Wellock knew Sarah from junior school days in Sutton, and after attending the grammar school he completed his teacher training at Dudley and Carnegie College, Leeds.

Although he signed up for the RAF, Mr Wellock did not see active service because of a medical condition.

He nurtured many successful school cricket and rugby teams and for three weeks every summer, helped to set-up and run a school camp near Kirkcudbright.

Mr Wellock leaves Tim, a daughter, Frances, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

The funeral service is at Skipton Crematorium on Monday, October 28, at 11.40am.