Keith Aaron

KEITH Aaron, who has died aged 75, was a dedicated worker for his community and a passionate supporter of local sporting organisations.

He was a founder member of Wakefield Sports Council when it was formed in 1974, serving on its committee until it was succeeded firstly by Wakefield Sports Forum then by Wakefield Community Sports Network.

His role with them meant that he was also a local Sports Council representative on the Federation of Yorkshire Sport, and was one of its representatives on the Regional Council for Sport and Recreation.

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He was an enthusiastic supporter of Sportsaid (Yorkshire and Humber) which supports young athletes before they get on to Lottery-sponsored

programmes.

He was born in Normanton and educated at St Mary's Church School, Wakefield, and the Cathedral Boys' School before moving to Wakefield Technical College Commercial Department at 13.

His first job at 15 was with Saville Kilburn estate agents, but at 18 he joined the Gas Board, later British Gas, working in the finance department for 40 years, where he had oversight of meter readers across Yorkshire.

A keen sportsman he played football for Alverthorpe Youth Club and Old Thornesions FC, and cricket for Patons and Baldwins as a batsman from the 1950s until the 1980s, when the firm closed. The sports complex was taken over by Wakefield District Council and renamed Wakefield Thornes CC.

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Mr Aaron maintained his involvement, becoming secretary and then chairman of the club, which comprised cricket, tennis and bowls. He led them through a difficult financial period, and was instrumental in obtaining funding for an all-weather pitch installed only a few years ago. For several years he was chairman of the selection panel for the Wakefield Express sponsored sports awards.

Away from sport, he was a member of Wakefield Community Empowerment Network, set up by the Government in 2002. He put in many hours supporting the area networks, and was a vice-chairman until he retired six months ago. He also had a spell on one of the local council's Scrutiny Committees, where one of his roles was to sort out the anomalies in sports clubs' leases.

He had been a Wakefield member of Probus for 20 years.

Mr Aaron leaves a widow, Margaret, a daughter, and two grandsons. A funeral service will be held at Wakefield Salvation Army Citadel on Thursday at 2pm.

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