Gordon Thompson

Mr Thompson, who was born in York in 1930, founded his first club in the city in 1962. At that time York Shotokan Karate Club was one of only two in the North of England.

He later played a major part in setting up clubs in Leeds, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Rotherham and Sunderland and became York's representative at the inaugural meeting of the Karate Union of Great Britain in 1966.

Mr Thompson left York to work for a spell in South Africa in the late 1960s. When he returned, he helped to form York Kenshinkan Karate Club, which was based at Imphal Barracks on Fulford Road.

Ian MacLaren, a co-founder member of the York Kenshinkan Club, paid tribute to the huge amount of work Mr Thompson did for the sport.

"Gordon's contribution to karate was immense. He had a heart of gold and helped many people over the years, never asking for praise or compensation. In his passing the world of karate has lost one or its founding fathers and is diminished by that loss," he said.

Former European champion Ian Tate, who is the York Kenshinkan chief instructor, said: "I am one of many people who owe their success in karate to Gordon. He was York's first Black Belt and had 50 years' involvement in karate, never taking a penny. Without people like him there is no karate.

"He must have helped to train thousands of people, one of his most famous students being Steve Cattle, who won numerous titles and represented Great Britain."

Mr Thompson worked initially as an apprentice joiner at York Carriage Works and later at the University of York. He spent his National Service in Egypt.

He was a keen churchgoer in Heslington, York, where he lived. He edited Outlook, the parish magazine, up to the time of his sudden death.

The funeral service was held at St Paul's Church, Heslington, this week.