ST LEONARD’S HOSPICE’S first chairman, whose devotion to the organisation helped him raise millions of pounds to keep the charity afloat, has died.

Trevor Copley assisted in the formation of St Leonard’s Hospice in 1978 and later became instrumental in identifying a site for the Tadcaster Road building.

He was applauded for launching its original appeal for £750,000 in 1982 and was still at the helm when the £2 million Millennium Appeal began in May 1999.

Mr Copley, who died on February 27, aged 81, served as chairman for 23 years.

The father-of-two continued to chair what became the Council of Management and then the Trustees of the Hospice, but he was never afraid to pitch in where needed, and staff remember him regularly turning up with his lawnmower to cut the hospice’s grass.

A former company secretary at Rowntrees, Mr Copley, of Grimston, was born in Wakefield in 1933 and attended the city’s Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School.

Orphaned at 16, he went on to study law at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

He served in the Royal Corps of Signals during his National Service and was a noted rugby player, leading him to be posted to Germany to play for The Light Brigade.

A spokesman for St Leonard’s Hospice said: “A kind, unselfish and modest man, Trevor was noted for being calm in a crisis and extremely good under pressure.

“He would think things through and offer good advice, gave people the space to do their work and was widely recognised as a wise, good and gentle man who was approachable, good humoured and had a genuine concern for the welfare of other people. When he announced his retirement the hospice newsletter noted Trevor’s ‘commitment, financial skills and leadership have been key factors in the development and success of St Leonard’s’.

“Those qualities, coupled with approachability, good humour and a genuine concern for the welfare of other people, made him the ideal man for an but important job.”

He is survived by his wife Colleen, children Andrew and David, four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.