Dave was born in Cleckheaton on 12th October 1943, the youngest son of his Mother, Gertrude (Trudy) and Father, James. He joined a loving family with older brothers Malcolm, Don and sisters Elaine and Carol. The family moved to Gomersal, where Dave spent his childhood and teenage years. Dave adored his Mum and was the apple of her eye. He often used to talk about going out as a young boy to pick flowers or fruit for her as a surprise present. He enjoyed telling stories of his childhood, particularly the mischievous things he used to get up to as he was growing up.  One particular story he often recollected was hiding in the local graveyard and jumping out on her! Dave’s great sense of humour and fun never left him, he was always a huge joker and great fun to be around.  Dave, from a young age, developed a great love of motorbikes, racing around the local streets much to his Mother’s consternation! 
Dave met the love of his life, Lynne, in a local coffee bar in Autumn 1963.  He’d just finished his drumming lesson and popped into the bar where Lynne was meeting a friend. Dave sat on the table behind them and they started chatting. Lynne does remember Dave being a shy character and a man of few words (although in his later years, quite the opposite could be said of him!!). He was so taken with Lynne that he asked her out on a date. Their first date was at The Odeon Cinema in Bradford. They had a few similar dates and Lynne would always make Dave a packed tea for him to eat in the cinema as he arrived straight from work. Lynne loved to dance and so they used to go dancing at the Mecca Dance Hall. Lynne remembers that Dave wasn’t particularly keen on dancing but did it for Lynne as he knew how much she enjoyed it.
Dave and Lynne had a very happy courtship and got engaged when Lynne turned 18, marrying three years later in July 1967 at Idle Church with Don, his brother as his Best Man.  Lynne and Dave were loved and warmly welcomed by each other’s families. Lynne remembers her and Dave going on a very happy holiday to Skegness with her parents, Dorothy and Harry, who both loved Dave as he did them. Ever the family man, Dave used to enjoy helping Harry out in the family electrical shop and regularly went out with Harry to help him on repair jobs.  
Dave’s greatest love and source of his biggest pride was his family. He and Lynne welcomed daughter Nicola in December 1969 and son Scott, three years later in September 1972. 
As a young family they lived in Hall Avenue in Eccleshill. before moving to Sunningdale in Allerton and then a few years later to their established family home on Highfield Road, Idle. Dave was always skilled at seeing great opportunities and both Nicola and Scott both remember moving into their new house on Highfield Road with the grass sky high, a rope for the stair bannister and being wrapped up warm in bunk beds at night as the central heating had not yet been installed. Dave saw potential in the house, which he quickly developed into the happy and much-loved family home it has been for all over the last 40+ years. 
Nicola and Scott remember a very happy childhood full of love, laughter, fun and opportunities. Dave & Lynne worked hard to give them both the best start in life and sent Nicola and Scott to private school. They recall many happy family holidays abroad including Spain, Tenerife, Greece and Italy.  They remember a Dad, who always saw the best in them and was unfailing. Nicola describes her dad as “amazing, perfect and always there for you”. Scott describes him as “Everything that a Dad should be, someone who let him find his own way, never pushed him into anything, but was always there to listen, support and encourage”. 
Dave was a very proud and much-loved Grandad to Ben (1988), Oliver (2000), Ethan (2004), Kaiden (2010) and Theo (2018). Dave and Lynne brought Ben and Oliver up as their own.  Dave’s Grandchildren were all a great source of delight and huge pride to him. He was a very hands on Grandad and doted on by all his Grandsons. He was full of fun and at his happiest spending time with them whether it was going for a walk along the canal with Ben and his dog Troy, playing a game of pool or going swimming with Oliver, proudly watching Ethan playing rugby, playing games with Kaiden or rolling on the floor, building Lego towers with Theo and making him roar with laughter by quacking like a duck.
Dave always had a great work ethic, always working hard to provide for his family who he loved dearly. 
He left school at 15 and joined the engineering trade as a Welder which was perfect for him as he loved to tinker and fix things.  He spent a few years developing his skills in this trade before moving to Sunwin House Department Store in his late teens starting in the Bedding Department but was soon transferred to the Records Department, which he thoroughly enjoyed with music being one of his great passions.  Dave left Sunwin House to become a Buyer for Grandways, a job which he relished and in which he excelled. Scott recalls with amusement the memory of his Dad returning from work several times with a car full of surplus stock…. Footballs, Easter Eggs to name just a few! 
Dave left Grandways and used the knowledge and expertise he gained there to set up his own business with Lynne selling hosiery and underwear in Bradford’s St John’s Market. Such was Dave and Lynne’s great skill and work ethic, that they soon expanded their rapidly growing business to widen their product lines and open more market stalls in Shipley, Bingley and a shop in Leeds City Centre, aptly named Head to Toe. Scott, Nicola and Ben all remember with great fondness, helping their Mum and Dad out on the market stalls and in the shop and Scott has happy memories of travelling to Manchester and Leeds with his Dad visiting suppliers and customers – it became a real family affair. 
One of Ben’s favourite memories is waking up on the weekend and during the school holidays to spend time helping his Grandad out on Shipley market. He recollects “every day was different and even helping him pack tights on an evening was fun thanks to his mischievous sense of humour!”
Over the years, Dave reduced the number of business locations and working days, which allowed him to move onto a new chapter in his life and reinvent himself again …
As well as having a huge heart and immense love for his family, Dave had real pride in Bradford and his local community. He was very much a ‘do-er’ and this combined with a great desire to help improve life for the residents drove his decision to stand as a Local Councillor and he was elected in May 2003 as the new Liberal Democrat Councillor for Bolton & Undercliffe, winning the election with over 50% of the votes!  He was re-elected twice more, before finally standing down from Bradford Council in 2014.   Dave was a passionate, dedicated and at times opinionated Councillor!  He fought hard for his constituents and supported local issues, campaigning on everything from closing the neighbourhood fire station to repairing potholes on the roads!  He acted as member of the Local Licensing Board, the West Yorkshire Fire Authority as well as a being a dedicated Governor at Poplars Primary School.  Oliver fondly remembers accompanying his Grandad on several of his council duties and in particular a tour of Bradford Town Hall.
In his later life, Dave suffered from ill health which meant that he had to reduce his work commitments, but he never let it stop him or his passions!  He loved spending time with Lynne and his family, enjoying coach journeys throughout the North with his friend John, walking miles every day counting the steps on his Fitbit, listening to his music (often blasting out of the speakers at top volume!), tending to his garden in the sunshine, carrying out DIY around the house, supporting the local charity shop and collecting DVDs, amassing a collection that any Blockbuster store would be proud of!   He recently renewed his passport ever hopeful of a holiday abroad or visiting his Grandson Ben in Australia.  


Ben paid tribute to his Grandad and speaks for us all with the affectionate words “Always putting on a tough front, but deep down, kind and gentle, looking after anyone you felt needed the help, so trusting and caring.  Family always came first, and you worked so hard to provide us with everything we have. Your infectious laugh and warming smile will always remind me of our happy times together”. 


Whatever your relationship:  Brother, Husband, Dad, Grandad, Friend, Colleague….Dave was the most loving, loyal companion you could ever wish for….unassuming and never seeking the limelight, he never wanted to be the centre of attention…even today… and would ask us all not to mourn our loss, but to continue with our lives and just remember him with a smile on our face.  


Don’t shut the door by Robert Taylor