HE has been both a church warden and a parish councillor in Escrick, near York, for more than half a century.

He is also an active member of the village choir, the Freemasons in York and a local group of professional and businessmen.

Now Bill Reader’s years of service to the church and the community has been recognised through an invitation to receive Maundy Money from the Queen at York Minster next month.

Mr Reader, 87, who is married to Pat and has two sons, Neil and John, and one daughter, Gillian, and three grandchildren, was the estate manager for the Forbes Adams estate at Escrick for 48 years until his retirement in 1989.

He said he had given a total of 51 years of service as a church warden at St Helen’s Church and another 55 years as a member of Escrick Parish Council, and still served in both roles and planned to carry on while he remained fit and well.

He said he had been a founder member more than 25 years ago of the Tuesday Singers, a choir which meets for rehearsals in Escrick village school every Tuesday.

He was a member of the Freemasons’ Mitre Lodge – formerly the Archbishop Holgate School lodge – based in St Saviourgate, since 1978.

He was also a founder member, and the current secretary, of the Derwent Probus group for retired and semi-retired business and professional men, which originally met in Escrick but now met regularly at the Swallow Hall golf club in Wheldrake.

He also played for Escrick Park Cricket Club until he was 70 and was secretary for 48 years, and also played hockey with York Hockey Club.

Mr Reader said when he received the invitation to the Minster service on April 5, he couldn’t believe it.“It’s a great honour,” he said.

“I never dreamt it might happen.”

He said he would be accompanied to the Minster by his wife and his son Neil.