AIRCRAFT from RAF Linton-on-Ouse are to conduct a fly-past at the funeral of a York-born man as a tribute to his devoted work at the Yorkshire Air Museum.

Ronald Pontefract, who gave much of his life to public service in York, died at his home at Elvington following a long illness. He was 81.

Born in York, he spent the first 17 years of his life in Paris, where his father was an importer of British and American foodstuffs.

A former pupil of Bootham School, Mr Pontefract worked for a short spell at Yorkshire Insurance before joining Mattersons, of Goodramgate, York, the family children's outfitters.

He served in the Royal Air Force throughout the Second World War and then had 12 years in the Auxilliary Air Force.

He went back to the Yorkshire Insurance Company (later General Accident) before becoming telecommunications manager at Nestl Rowntree, a post he held until his retirement at the age of 64.

Mr Pontefract helped to found the Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington, and was its treasurer from the first day.

He was also president of the York Chamber of Trade and as far back as the 1940s was keen to see Britain going metric, as he felt it would help the country in all ways in the long-term.

He was twice Master of the Guild of Merchant Taylors, and was chairman of the York-Dijon Association for 12 years.

He was also a former chairman of the National Health Service complaints section.

A Scottish piper will play a lament from the control tower at Elvington Airfield during the funeral service in the hangar tomorrow at 12.30pm.

Mr Pontefract leaves a widow, Nan, to whom he was married for 57 years, a daughter, Jacqueline, and a son, Colin. Another daughter, Diane, died five years ago.

Updated: 08:41 Tuesday, March 11, 2003