TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular and well-known DJ from York, who helped bring Northern Soul music to the city.

Bryan Richmond who was a DJ for three decades from the 1970s until the early 2000s, died last Saturday at York’s St Leonard’s Hospice the age of 63, after a battle with lung cancer.

Bryan was a member of the York Scooter Club in the 70s and 80s.

As a tribute to him, on the day of his funeral on December 7, more than 100 former members of the club will be travelling together on their scooters as part of the funeral procession to St Oswald’s Church in Fulford from Aldbrough House, Brook Street, in The Groves area, where Bryan lived.

His funeral will be take place at the church at 12 noon, which anyone can attend.

His brother Anthony said: “Bryan was a very loving person.

“There have been a lot of comments on his Facebook page about how loving he was.

“He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.”

Bryan followed the Northern Soul music scene and began DJing in the early 1970s.

He played Northern Soul tracks at the Water Lane Youth Club in Clifton.

Anthony said: “He brought Northern Soul to York, playing at the Water Lane Youth Club, the response from that was amazing.

“In the 70s Northern Soul was hard to come by. It was an unknown music scene.

“It’s very popular now.

“People are still together today from the scene Bryan brought to York.”

Bryan went onto DJ at the New Earswick Folk Hall, known as The Bop, in the 70s and 80s, where he continued playing Northern Soul music.

His ambition after this was to become a DJ at a nightclub.

He went on to fulfil his dream by playing at the former Finnian’s club in Fishergate, which changed its name to Hotshots and later Keaton’s.

The site is now used as a Mecca bingo venue.

He was a DJ until 2002, and the last venue he worked at was the Edinburgh Arms in Fishergate.

He also worked as a van driver for York construction firm Shepherd Group, for a few years.

In September, his family organised a party for him at Huntington Working Mens Club, knowing he only had a short amount of time left to live.

Anthony said that about 350 people attended, and the event raised around £650 for Macmillan Cancer Support.