Peter Savage: Community's tributes to honour '˜Mr Ossett'

Family, friends, colleagues and neighbours of Peter Savage have paid tribute to the much-loved performer and dedicated community advocate who “never failed to champion his hometown”.

Mr Savage, who died from illness on Monday, was born in Ossett in 1935.

His family described him as a “quiet child who wouldn’t say boo to a goose”.

As a boy, he learnt to play the piano and this marked the start of a lifelong love for music and the arts. At the age of 18, Mr Savage was conscripted to serve in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. After injuring his knee, he was advised to take up swimming and dancing.

This kick-started his professional stage career as a ballroom dancer with the award winning Jack and Joyce Briggs Formation Team. Mr Savage later moved away from Ossett to join The Black and White Minstrels.

Ruth Amos, chair of the Civic Trust,said: “Everyone called him Mr Ossett. Whatever was going on, he was always on the frontline, always involved.”