TRIBUTES have been paid to Gerald Egan, the former manager at Selby railway station and longstanding member of Sherburn Aero Club.

Mr Egan died earlier this month at the age of 80 following a long battle with cancer, and lived and was based in Selby throughout the the 1990s, before he moved to Leeds where he was also Leeds station manager and responsible for other stations in West Yorkshire.

While he was serving at Selby, the railway station won an award in the Selby in Bloom competition, organised by the Town Council – the first time it had entered the competition.

Mr Egan started his career on the railways as a messenger boy moving through the ranks to becoming station manager.

Reg French, who worked closely with Mr Egan when he was secretary of the Selby and District Railway Users Group, said: "I had a very good working relationship with Gerald, and he became a personal friend even when he left Selby, and he still attended the rail users meetings."

Mr E was a member of the Sherburn Aero Club for almost 40 years, and had served in the RAF during his National Service.

During his time at the club, he acted as finance director and regularly organised trips to local RAF stations for members including the club’s 'Bomber Barons', or RAF veterans.

Although he did not own an aircraft, Mr Egan flew other members’ aircraft, and accompanied them on flights from the airfield.

Ken Dando, a longstanding friend of Mr Egan, said: "Gerald was a true gentleman, an excellent pilot and we enjoyed many happy times in flight."

Mr Egan is survived by his wife Jean and his brother.