THE man who knows more about one of North Yorkshire's stately homes than anyone else has found himself in the spotlight.

Tom Prime has been involved with Kiplin Hall, near Richmond, for more than 40 years and is the fount of all knowledge when it comes to its history.

So staff, volunteers and friends turned out in force to help him celebrate his 90th birthday.

The trustees presented him with a pewter tankard copied from one held in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and engraved with the hall's logo, which Mr Prime designed many years ago.

Mr Prime once worked in the photographic department of Whessoe's engineering, in Darlington. He became involved with the hall more than four decades ago when he met its last owner, Bridget Talbot.

He had a lifelong interest in historic buildings, paintings and furniture and when Miss Talbot died in 1971, the trustees' asked him to act as Kiplin Hall's caretaker.

"Everyone thought I was mad to come here, leaving a good job, because no one thought Kiplin would survive", he said.

"Kiplin Hall was considered a hopeless case, it was in an awful state.

"I've watched it progress over the years and now it's absolutely marvellous."

Over the years he learned all he could about the house, the families who had owned it over 400 years, and the paintings and furniture they had left behind.

He welcomed visitors, often giving them a guided tour, followed by tea in his flat off the Long Gallery.

"His knowledge is remarkable and is still cheerfully and amusingly shared with Kiplin's visitors, volunteers and staff. He makes his way around the hall during open afternoons.," said a spokesman for the hall.

Mr Prime has lived in Richmond Lodge, at Kiplin, since 1987.