A SERVICE of thanksgiving is to be held at York Minster in memory of the late Peter Terry, the last member of the Terry family to manage the city chocolate factory.

Family, friends and ex-colleagues of the former deputy managing director are expected to attend the service on Friday, March 24, at 2.30pm.

Mr Terry, of Brandsby, near Easingwold, had been ill for some years, and died last month at St Monica's Hospital, in Easingwold. He left his Swedish-born wife, Carin, six sons and a daughter.

Mrs Terry said: "The service is for anyone who knew him, and for people who worked at Terry's."

His death came just hours before news broke of the deal to buy the former chocolate factory site.

In 2004, he backed the Evening Press campaign to save Terry's when parent company Kraft was threatening closure.

At the time, he said the prospect made him feel as though there had been a loss in the family, and he attacked "people from abroad who take over without having a local interest".

Mr Terry's father, Noel, headed what was then a family business, while his great grandfather, Sir Joseph Terry, was the son and namesake of the original Joseph Terry, who gave his name to the firm.

Peter Terry was made president of Terry's for life by Lord Laing, of United Biscuits, when the conglomerate acquired the factory from Colgate Palmolive in 1982.

He stayed for another three years as a consultant.

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, March 04, 2006