A YORK MINSTER guide and former manager of Co-op Travel has died, aged 87.

Arthur Rosewarne, of Fulford, died on January 29 in Somerset Nursing Home.

He was born in 1921, one of two sons of Lilla and Percy Rosewarne, and attended Poppleton Road and Priory Street Schools before starting at the Co-op as a grocer’s assistant earning £7.

He went on to the Co-op College, and eventually became the manager of the York branch of Co-op Travel.

He stayed in the post for 31 years during which he and his staff sent thousands of local people off on trips throughout the British Isles, Europe and across the world.

It was through this role that he met his wife, Mary, who also worked at the Co-op, whom he was married to for nearly 40 years.

His career at the Co-op resulted in his home in Danum Drive becoming filled with books.

In a backroom, there was a visitor’s guide to almost every country in the world.

Mr Rosewarne was a Quaker and had a love of history, knowledge and his native Yorkshire.

His knowledge of the city led him to lead ghost walks in the city and walks of the Bar Walls.

His niece, Viv Humpage, said her uncle had a lifetime love affair with the Minster from boyhood, which led to him qualifying as a blue badge guide.

She said he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Vale of York and the county in general and had donated 35 of his books to the Minster.

Mr Rosewarne leaves his wife Mary. His funeral will take place on Monday at York Crematorium at noon.

The family has requested that rather than flowers, mourners make a donation to the Minster.