A RYEDALE man who notched up 21 years as the village clockwinder has died at the age of 80.

Ted Inman, of Thornton-le-Dale, wound the clock at All Saints' Church every six days from 1971 until his retirement in 1992.

The clock, which was installed as an offering of thanks after the First World War, was 80 years old in November, exactly the same age as Mr Inman.

The Vicar, of All Saints', the Rev David Clark, said Mr Inman, a former engineer, had diligently kept the clock working in all the time he had been responsible for it.

He said: "He was a cheerful sort of chap and he certainly did a good stint at it.

"He was a farmer's son, but he decided farming wasn't for him and became a motor engineer."

Mr Inman's daughter, Sarah Grewer, said he had always been a part of village life.

She said: "He started working at Barne's garage in Thornton-le-Dale as an apprentice when he left school at 14.

"He was a keen model engineer and loved that side of things."

She said her father was also an animal lover.

Mrs Grewer said: "There was a greyhound racetrack at Thornton-le-Dale where he helped mend the track and I remember going to it as a child while it was still running."

The funeral will take place at All Saints' Church, Thornton-le-Dale, tomorrow, at 1pm.

Updated: 11:28 Tuesday, February 26, 2002