A FORMER mayor and deputy headteacher of Richmond grammar school has died, aged 90.

Frank Dickinson was a Richmond town councillor for 21 years, from 1948, and served as the town's then youngest mayor, aged 41, in 1953.

He became deputy headmaster at the grammar school in 1954 and retired in 1973.

Mr Dickinson was born in 1912 in Morley, near Leeds, and met his future wife, Evelyn, when they were children.

They married at Sprotborough, near Doncaster, in 1936 and last year received congratulations from the Queen on their 65th anniversary.

After leaving Woodhouse Grove school, near Bradford, he gained a physics degree and an MA at Jesus College, Oxford, followed by a diploma in education.

He was appointed physics master at Richmond grammar school by Mr F C T Woodhead in 1935 - at a starting salary of £249 a year.

After joining the Royal Corps of Signals in 1940, he left for India in 1942 and his wife did not see him again for three-and-a-half years.

On his return to Singapore in 1946 he was demobbed as Acting Major.

He returned to playing cricket and rugby for Richmond. He was a tenor in the male voice choir and Richmond operatic society and helped organise Richmondshire subscription concerts.

A stalwart of the Georgian Theatre Royal, he was involved in its restoration and re-launch and was a member of the management council. He was also a member of Richmond and district civic society. He enjoyed gardening and travelling.

Mr Dickinson, who died on October 20, leaves a wife and two children, David and Margaret.