David Saddler

Although he earned his living as a bank manager, he was a born entertainer with a wonderfully dry sense of humour, and was known in Yorkshire for his Big Band, and later his jazz bands, playing at the Batley Variety Club, Wakefield Theatre Club and numerous pubs and clubs in the county.

He was born in Walton, near Wakefield, the fourth son of Lewis and Lillian Saddler who had moved to Yorkshire from their native South Wales and lived in Manygates.

He was especially close to his eldest brother George, who often encouraged him to miss school and accompany him on trips in his lorry.

David Saddler was educated at Sandal Endowed School and Leeds University, and showed a great interest in music from an early age, learning to play the piano and write his own arrangements.

It was to become a major part of his life having launched his Big Band, playing in the style of Glen Miller, while serving in the RAF which he joined at 19 during the Second World War.

In his first week, he was reprimanded and put on guard duty for chewing gum on parade. But he recovered to become a flight sergeant serving on Lancasters in Bomber Command.

Last year, as one of the last 3,000 surviving members of that unsung wing of the RAF, he finally received recognition for his service when presented with his Veteran’s Medal.

It was at one of his big band nights that he met Shirley Briggs and after an engagement of seven years they married and set up home in Sandal, and had two sons.

With a family to support Mr Saddler needed a career outside music so joined the National Coal Board as a wages clerk, before moving to the Probation service, and finally making his main career with the Midland Bank where he became manager of the Horbury branch.

He even managed to combine his banking with his music often entering, and winning prizes, for the Midland Bank floats on parade days, where there would always be a band of jazz men on board.

His wife Shirley died in 1984 after a long illness, 12 days short of their 30th wedding anniversary. He later remarried but his second wife, Margaret, died last October.

Mr Saddler is survived by his sons Philip and Robert, two grandsons and five granddaughters.

His funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 27, at St Helen’s Church, Sandal, at 1.45pm.