GLOWING tributes were paid yesterday to Sid Weighell, the inspirational rail union boss, staunch opponent of the militant left and former professional footballer.

The moderate leader of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) for seven years, and a firm right-winger, Mr Weighell was renowned for his outspoken attacks on the left, which he blamed for the demise of the Callaghan government following the so-called winter of discontent.

A funeral service for Mr Weighell, who died in hospital on Wednesday, aged 79, will take place in his home town of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, next Thursday.

His son, Tony, said: "Although he lived and worked in the South for a long time, he was a North-East man at heart and spent as much time as possible in the area. It was nice that he could return there after his retirement for 20 happy years."

Born on March 31, 1922, Sid Weighell left school and followed his father and grandfather by joining London and North-Eastern Railway as a footplateman. His rapid rise in the NUR took him to the most senior post of general secretary, after spending a decade as its assistant.

His service to the union was interrupted only by his love of sport. A talented footballer, he turned out for West Auckland before having two seasons playing at inside-left for Sunderland in the mid-1940s.

A trophy-laden spell playing for Brompton Football Club marked the end of his career. He eventually retired to Beckwithshaw, near Harrogate, and joined the British Airports' Authority board.

Despite his many achievements in the public eye, his personal life was struck by tragedy.

In 1956, he and his son were seriously injured in a car crash which killed his wife of six years, Margaret, and their four-month-old daughter.

He married again in 1959, to Joan Willetts, who survives Mr Weighell, along with son Tony.