Bob Halstead

The business, still based at Dudley Hill, Bradford, was founded in the 1870s by his grandfather, who himself ran it for the first 50 years of its existence.

Mr Halstead was educated at Giggleswick School, then Leeds University, before his national service was cut short to enable him to take over the running of the business when his father became ill.

He took the business through periods of great turbulence in the industry. He would say with some pride that there wasn’t a single aspect of the production process that he couldn’t do personally.

It was he who developed the mohair business for which the name William Halstead is now famous in the industry and which still forms the backbone of the company’s business.

He found time, nevertheless, to participate fully in the wider activities of the industry.

He served two full terms as president of the Confederation of British Wool Textiles.

He was treasurer of the National Wool Textile Export Corporation and a council member of the international textile body, known as Interlaine. In 1991, he was president of the Bradford Textile Society.

In 1952, he married Brenda Peel, herself the daughter of a former president of the Bradford Textile Society.

Mr Halstead’s father had been best man at the wedding of his future wife’s parents. The two families had known each other for years – there are pictures of Bob and Brenda Halstead on the beach at Bridlington as young children. In March, they began their 60th year of marriage.

They had five children, two of whom, Peter and William, followed Bob into the family business.

Mr Halstead only ever lived in three houses, first at Westgate Hill and then Birkenshaw, both a short distance from the family mill.

On retirement, Mr and Mrs Halstead moved to Austwick in the Yorkshire Dales, where they enjoyed fully the thriving community life of the village. Their garden at Austwick has been the setting of a number of village garden parties and open garden events.

Mr Halstead was a large character, direct in his views – and never afraid to express them. His willingness to tease and his sharp sense of humour were never far below the surface.

He is survived by Brenda, their children, Sue, William, Tim and Robert (Peter having predeceased him) and 12 grandchildren.