TRIBUTE has been paid to a former Keighley man who has died aged 36.

Matthew Halliday was born in Bingley, but after the family moved to Keighley he attended Holy Family School in the town and as a young teen joined the Sea Cadets.

After leaving school, Matthew worked as a fundraiser at Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice Manorlands.

His heartbroken mum, Lynn Marie Parker, says her son was heavily involved in charity work throughout his life.

She adds: "He was taken too young, but I’m immensely proud of the happy life he had. He reached for the sky in everything he did. He had a passion for life and was very academic."

Matthew was born to Lynn and his late father Tony Halliday and was the eldest of four children.

Following his work at Manorlands he attended Leeds University, where he met his partner of 17 years, Roy Davison.

He then spent time in London, and his first major role in the capital was with the LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing charity London Friend, where he became one of the youngest chief executives in the country.

Mrs Parker says: "When he set his mind to something, he was driven.

"While he was in London, after Amy Winehouse had died, he supported her father and helped him set up a charity in her name.

"He had many happy years in London but was always striving for the next challenge.

"He came back to Yorkshire with Roy and took over the White Horse pub in Bingley.

"They also took the tenancy of The Fisherman’s in Bingley, a pub which they completely transformed."

Matthew, who was passionate about his beer, came up with a business plan and investors to open Bradford Brewery in the city centre in 2015.

Mrs Parker added: "The plans for the £400,000 brewery were unveiled in 2014. At that time it was an old rundown building and was part of the Bradford Council Growth Zone grant scheme to regenerate the city centre.

"He was back in Bradford and at the heart of the community.

"Matthew was very much a person who got along with everybody. He was such a likeable person."

His funeral service takes place at Nab Wood Crematorium next Thursday (February 2), at 10.10am.

It will be family flowers only, but people are welcome to make a donation which will go towards two charities in memory of Matthew.