ROYAL British Legion stalwart Ted Griffiths has died, just a day after his latest Festival of Remembrance raised thousands of pounds more for the poppy appeal.

Mr Griffiths, 95 - who was dubbed Mr Poppy because of his unstinting voluntary work for the Legion's annual appeal - died suddenly at his home in Heworth on Monday.

His family said he was reading The Press' report on Sunday's successful event at the Barbican at the time.

The festivals are thought to have raised a total of about £150,000 over the years for the appeal.

Tributes to Mr Griffiths have been led by the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Ian Gillies, on behalf of himself and previous Lord Mayors, who said he was very saddened. "As Lord Mayor, it has been a great privilege to know Ted," he said.

"I, along with the civic party, was with him and members of the Royal British Legion on two occasions over the weekend, taking part in Remembrance events, both at the Garden of Remembrance at the South African War Memorial on Saturday morning, and at the Festival of Remembrance at York Barbican on Sunday evening.

"It was Ted’s 25th Festival of Remembrance this year, and I know the amount of work he put into organising the event every year was incredible for a gentleman of his years."

He added that Mr Griffiths had been a great friend and supporter of the civic party over the years, always ensuring Lord Mayors were fully briefed on Remembrance events, and he would be fondly remembered by them.

Former Lord Mayor, Cllr Brian Watson, said Mr Griffiths had been a 'true gentleman' and he would be missed by many.

"He was only talking to (former Lady Mayoress) Marcia and I on Sunday about when he received the Honorary Freemanship of the City when I was Lord Mayor," he said. "It was a great honour for me to present him with that."

Mr Griffiths, the youngest son of a family of seven, was born in Lichfield, where he was a soloist in the cathedral choir, and he was married to Mary, who died in 2009, and had a daughter Christine and son David, and four grandchildren.

During the war, he saw active service in France, Belgium, North Africa, Italy and Palestine.

He told in 2010 how he lost a very dear friend, who was married with a baby boy, during the Second World War when they both went up in a mortar bomb, and he promised then that should he survive, he would do all he could to help the unfortunate women who had lost their husbands.

He was the chairman of the Legion's Ridings group for many years and president of the York branch, organising its annual poppy appeal. He was awarded the coveted Gold Badge, and was presented with the MBE in 1997 and won The Press’ Community Pride Person Of The Year trophy in 2010. Funeral details will be published later.