A WELL-KNOWN York entrepreneur with a varied and colourful past has died aged 80.

Neville England was particularly remembered for his work as a photographer at the Assembly Rooms in York during the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Thousands of young people would flock there on a Friday or a Saturday night to dance - many later married as a result.

He owned a photography studio in Low Ousegate, where people could collect his photographs as memories of their night.

Neville opened the first night club in York - the 55 Club in Micklegate, now Ziggy's.

He also ran the Staircase Restaurant, the 71-Club and Walker's Bar, and let out several bedsits in the city.

He was a keen music lover, performing as a tenor at the Assembly Rooms and singing opera across York.

As a club owner, he sang with many famous names, including Gilbert O'Sullivan.

He met his wife, Jean, while singing with a dance band at the Assembly Rooms and they married in 1960. They later moved to Guernsey, where they lived together for 22 years.

Neville died from cancer in Les Bourgs Hospice, Guernsey, on March 18.

He leaves a widow, Jean, son, Nick, daughters, Carol, Janice and Loraine, and a number of grandchildren.

Mrs England would like to thank everybody from York for their floral tributes, cards and donations to Les Bourgs Hospice.

Updated: 09:28 Friday, March 28, 2003