A BARNOLDSWICK man with a passion for Loch Class Frigates has died at the age of 82.

Arthur Bardsley, who was president of the Loch Class Frigates Association, died on March 20 after a long illness.

Mr Bardsley and his wife, Judith, met on holiday in Ibiza in 1990. After both of their partners died, they married in September 1992.

One of Mr Bardsley's passions was the Loch Class Frigates Association, where he had been a member for many years.

The Loch Class were anti-submarine frigates built for the Royal Navy and their allies during the Second World War.

Mr Bardsley served on the Loch Veyatie when he was in the Royal Navy and, as president of the association, he was instrumental in building the Loch Class Frigates Cairn at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Mr Bardsley was also a member of Barnoldswick and Earby Rotary Club for 21 years, and he served a one-year term as president in 2000-01.

He joined the club after his retirement from working 36 years as a services engineer at Trafford Park in Manchester.

When he joined the Rotary, Judith said he was the only person who had a computer, so he managed the club's website and did other computer work for them.

Mr Bardsley, who originally came from Salford, enjoyed wrestling, and was the Senior North of England wrestling champion 40 years ago.

He is survived by his wife, son Paul and daughter-in-law Jessica, of Barnoldswick.