VILLAGERS said farewell to a popular pensioner who saved their working men’s club from closure and was always there for those in need.

Tom Ward was described as a “local legend” during a poignant funeral service at St Paul’s Church in his home village of Hunwick today (Wednesday, July 29).

His death on Tuesday, July 21 at the age of 93 was felt deeply by the close-knit community and dozens of mourners attended the service and reminisced about Mr Ward’s many acts of kindness.

This included more than 50 years of service to Hunwick and District Working Men’s Club, which he saved from closure in the mid 1990s when large debts threatened its future.

His willingness to share his toffee stash and “infectious enthusiasm” for snooker were also praised.

The Reverend David Spokes, who led the service, said: “Tom had three passions his wife Grace, son Roger and daughter-in-law Jan; snooker; and the Labour party. I am sure if he is with Margaret Thatcher now there will be some sparring going on.”

Born in May 1922, Mr Ward served in the Royal Air Force and the Army during the Second World War.

He later became manager of Burton’s in Bishop Auckland and devoted his spare time to his family, the working men’s club and snooker.

Last year, he received a national Club Institute Union award in recognition of more than 50 years of service as club secretary.

And in 2012, Mr Ward became the first 90-year-old to win a game at the Durham CIU Snooker League with a 75-year-old cue his father bought him for 7/6d.

The same cue was placed in his coffin, along with a toffee and some chalk.

Fellow snooker enthusiast Charlie Donaghy said he and Mr Ward’s shared passion for the sport had blossomed into a great friendship.

“He was a tremendous man, an absolute legend in so many ways,” he added.

After the funeral, mourners gathered in the club, where the snooker room is named in Mr Ward’s honour.

His son, Roger Ward said: “He was a very humble man. He always had a toffee in his pocket to give to the bus driver or the bairns. He was always there to help those in need and was someone you could turn to if you had a problem.”