A LONG serving member and past president of Ye Fraternitie of Olde Selebians has died at the age of 77.

John Braithwaite, who worked for many years in the licensed trade had been ill with heart problems since 2004, but suffered a stroke in May of this year, shortly after returning from holiday in Tenerife, which left him disabled.

Born in Selby, he attended Selby Abbey School, Drax Grammar School and later Selby Technical School, worked at Danish Bacon, and was a joiner with local firms L. Read and H.H. Chambers.

He worked for Hey Brothers soft drinks firm and was manager of the Selby (Middlebrough) Brewery and worked for Wetherells Contracts.

He went into the licensing trade and worked as the steward with his wife Christine at Selby Railway Club for ten years, before becoming bar manager at Selby Golf Club for 17 years.

Away from his working life, he helped his friend Eric Barnes to raise funds for the Selby Olympia Scout Group and was president of the Selby St John Ambulance Cadet Unit when his son Stephen was a member and also supported Martin House Hospice.

John and his wife Christine, known as Liz, were keen caravanners, and she said: “He had a busy life and he loved his family. They were his life.”

Long serving member of the Fraternitie Peter Palmer paid tribute to John, and said: “John was a member for almost 30 years. He was highly regarded and held in great respect by his fellow members.

“He was very fond of his home town, and always upheld the traditions of the Fraternitie to promote and protect Selby. When he spoke at meetings, his measured opinions were always listened to. He will be sorely missed for his wisdom and dry humour, and the thoughts of the Fraternitie are with his family at this sad time.”

John is survived by his wife, daughter Julie, son Stephen, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

His funeral will be at Selby Abbey at 11am on Tuesday, August 22, followed by cremation in York.