A STALWART of Selby has died at the age of 93.

Thomas Herbert Foster, who was known as Bert, of Laurie Backhouse Court, served in numerous positions in the town, particularly within the church.

He also appeared in The Press on numerous occasions as the winder of Selby Abbey's clock.

Born in Leeds on February 26, 1914, he initially wanted a career in journalism, but when he was told there were no vacancies he instead went to Cochrane's Ship Yard as an office boy.

During his 50 years there - he retired in 1979, aged 65 - he worked as a wages and cost clerk, purchasing officer, estimator, assistant secretary and cashier, his final position.

He met his wife, Irene, while on holiday in Morecambe and they married in Selby Abbey in 1942.

The couple initially lived in Richardson's Yard, but after two years moved to Portholme Drive, where they spent almost their entire lives together, only moving in 2001 when Mrs Foster suffered a heart attack.

But it was his work within the diocese for which he will be most remembered.

He was a bell ringer, former president of the Selby Council of Churches and former co-chairman of the Deanery Synod. As a church warden he also took part in the Maundy service of 1969, which was visited by the Queen to celebrate 900th anniversary of the foundation of Selby Abbey.

Mr Foster spent 35 years as musical director of Selby Handbell Ringers, from 1953 to 1988, and in 1986 was honoured by the then Archbishop of York, Dr John Habgood, for his long service to the church, having spent 25 years as a lay preacher in the Selby area.

He was also a treasurer of the Hawdon Institute, and hit the news in 1983 as winder of the Selby Abbey clock.

He was facing redundancy from the job in 1983, as Selby Town Council was considering bringing in an electrical winding system.

But after being told it would cost £2,500, councillors agreed to carry on paying Mr Foster his peppercorn fee of £1 a day for climbing the 105 stone steps up to the clock chamber.

Mr Foster decided to call it a day the following year, by which time his wage had been doubled to £2 a day.

His daughter, Bryony, paid tribute to her father.

She said: "He was lovely, he had a great zest for life. He was very interested in anything historic, particularly churches and bells.

"He really enjoyed life and he was able to take part in all the things he really wanted to do."

Mr Foster's funeral will be held at 11am in Selby Abbey on Tuesday, followed by cremation at York Crematorium at noon.

A wake will be held in the Londesborough Arms Hotel in Selby.

Mr Foster leaves his daughter, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His wife died two years ago.