A NORTH YORKSHIRE pensioner who launched the University of the Third Age across the region has died aged 81.

David Hughes, from Rillington, near Malton, worked tirelessly on the many projects he was involved in, said his widow, Mildred.

"His brain was never still, he was always thinking of the next thing he was involved in," she said today.

"He was a very kind gentleman."

Mr Hughes worked to launch the university in Scarborough, at Whitby and also in York, where there are now more than 1,000 members.

The concept, which originated in France, was to allow the older generation to continue learning, she said.

"The idea is that you don't spend a lot of money hiring rooms and so on.

"Mostly they meet in each other's homes with a course leader."

Mr Hughes, who worked in advertising and tourism for Scarborough Borough Council before his retirement, was also a leading member of York Older Persons' Forum.

In addition, he was an ambassador for the Send A Cow charity, working to promote the organisation, which raises funds to pay for cattle and other livestock in Africa.

He was heavily involved in the New Horizons' Trust, and was a member of the Civic Society at Pocklington, alongside conservationist and architectural historian Professor Patrick Nuttgens.

Mr Hughes was actively involved in the Primary Care Trust, and regularly attended Community Health Council meetings.

Mrs Hughes said: "He has had a finger in an awful lot of pies trying to help people along the way."

Her husband had been trying to organise a special church service at St Mary's Priory, Old Malton, to coincide with the United Nations day for older people on October 1, she said, and she was hoping that it might still go ahead.

A funeral service was due to take place today at Woodlands Crematorium, Scarborough.

Mr Hughes also leaves two sons and a daughter from a previous marriage, and six grandchildren.

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, April 09, 2003