A musical tribute to ‘Mr Featherstone’ Ian Dransfield

Mr Dransfield, who died of liver cancer in October, ran Dransfield’s newsagents on Station Lane from 1964 to 2002 and worked as a firefighter in the town for almost 30 years.

He also organised an annual concert to raise cash for Pontefract’s Prince of Wales Hospice every year as a patron of the choir.

Peter Taylor, the choir’s concert secretary, said: “We used to hold a concert to raise money for the hospice every September and Ian would always organise it. He did it for us for about ten years.

“When he died last year I put it to the committee that we should change the name of the concert to the Ian Dransfield Concert.”

Mr Dransfield also raised £30,000 for the hospice where he was a volunteer and member of the board of trustees.

He became a volunteer at the Halfpenny Lane facility which cared for his brother Keith who died in 1999.

Mr Taylor added: “We thought having the concert in Ian’s name would be a fitting tribute to him.

“It’s going to be named after him for at least the next five years because he did so much for the hospice.

“We want to make sure Ian is remembered for all he did.”

The concert will take place at Featherstone Methodist Church, Wilson Street on Saturday, April 11 from 7.15pm.

Mr Dransfield’s wife Cynthia has also helped organise the event.

She said: “I’d known Ian since I was 16 so a massive chunk of my life was spent with him.

“He was kind, caring and generous.

“I honestly can’t say anything wrong about him.”

Tickets cost £6 and are available from Ian’s wife Cynthia by calling 01977 792281 or by calling Mr Taylor on 01977 797026.

People can also buy them from Dransfield’s Newsagents, which is now run by Ian’s nephew James, or the hospice reception.