A memorial service takes place next week for a former deputy headteacher.

Joe Mullen retired from St Peter's RC School, in South Bank, in 1988 and moved to Sir William Turner's Hospital - also known as Kirkleatham Almshouses - near Redcar, in 1993.

He died last month, at the age of 79, following a short illness. Several hundred people attended his funeral at St Peter's Church, including former pupils, teaching and naval colleagues.

During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Navy as a telegrapher and was one of a specialist group who intercepted the German Enigma signals.

Now, it is the turn of friends at the almshouses to pay their tributes at the memorial service, which takes place in the hospital's 17th Century chapel on Tuesday, at 11am.

Peter Sotheran, chairman of the trustees, said: "Mr Mullen made many contributions to our community at Sir William Turner's Hospital.

"As a great number of people were unable to attend his funeral, we thought it appropriate to remember his life with a service of thanksgiving in the chapel where he played the organ for us so often."

He said Mr Mullen's regular music evenings in the common room brought a new social aspect to life at the almshouses.

He is survived by a daughter and grandchildren, who will be at the service.