Wilf Proctor

THE FIRST paid Warden in the Yorkshire Dales has died at the age of 85.

Wilf Proctor joined the National Park in 1963 as Head Warden of the West Riding Section and worked for the Authority until he retired in 1983.

In 1965 it was suggested that he might recruit some volunteers to help him with his totally undefined job and he went on to create a Volunteer Warden Service that has evolved into the current Dales Volunteers organisation.

Mr Proctor was born in Blackpool and lived for many years in the Nottingham area where his first job was as a telegraph messenger. He graduated to the position of telecommunications engineer and later served in the Middle East with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

David Butterworth, Chief Executive of the YDNPA, paid tribute to Mr Proctor's work.

"His death is a sad loss from the point of view of the Authority," he said.

"He was a giant within the YDNPA and a real Dalesman - and the contribution he made to the work of the Authority went way beyond his employment."

South West Area Team Dales Volunteer Trevor Brooks said: "Wilf was passionate about the Yorkshire Dales and threw himself into his work with a vigour that remained constant throughout the 20 years he worked for the Authority. He left a legacy to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, mainly in the form of the Dales Volunteers - we have a lot to thank him for."

After his retirement, he and his wife Joan moved to Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway.