Family tribute to Arthur Beacroft of Wressle - 'We couldn't have found a better dad if we'd searched the world'

Tributes have been paid to a keen gardener and former steel worker, who has died aged 83.

Arthur Beacroft, of Wressle, was well-known in the Broughton area for his passion for gardening and vegetable produce.

He died at Scunthorpe General Hospital on Friday, July 20, after a battle with illness.

Sue Twilley, Mr Beacroft's daughter, said: "Everybody liked him and he was well-known in Broughton for his vegetables.

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"He grew them and took them to people and he sold veg from the house.

"He was a brilliant dad and grandad.

"He was one of those genuinely nice people. He didn't fall out with people and he was very easy-going."

Mrs Twilley said her father was an avid gardener.

She said: "He grew many varieties of vegetables, leaving the flower garden to his wife, Zelma.

"When he wasn't insisting on filling the entire freezer full of green beans, he was ripening tomatoes under the marital bed, or getting various family members to pose with his prized, often mammoth sized, vegetables.

"It didn't take his children long to realise that they didn't need to smile on the photos, as he was only interested in capturing a huge cauliflower or a massive pair of onions."

Mr Beacroft was born in Mill Lane, Brigg and was brought up by his maternal grandparents, before moving to Burringham to live with his aunt and uncle, aged 10.

After leaving school at 14, he had various jobs, before joining the RAF for his national service, where he worked as a radar operator.

After his national service, Mr Beacroft worked as a senior checker for British Rail in Scunthorpe, before moving to British Steel, where he worked as a semi-skilled machinist.

Mr Beacroft married his wife, Zelma, in March 1958 and their eldest daughter, Sherrie, was born six years later, before Sue followed in 1968.

He also leaves behind three grandchildren, Holly, Henry, and Poppy and a great-granddaughter, Ava Lilli.

Mrs Twilley said: "What made dad even more special to my sister Sherrie and myself was that throughout his life, he never knew his real father.

"As a result, he didn't have the role model that most people take for granted, to look up to when it came to knowing what made a good dad.

"So despite not having his own dad to turn to for advice and without any help from anyone else, he was still an excellent dad to both of us and we couldn't have had a better one if we had searched the whole world over."

A celebration of Mr Beacroft's life was held at Broughton Workingmen's Club, where donations in his memory raised £218 for Scunthorpe's Lindsey Lodge Hospice.

His body was bequeathed to the Hull York Medical School.

Family mourners: Zelma Beacroft (widow), Sherrie and Poppy Sanderson (daughter and granddaughter), rep Roy Sanderson (son-in-law.) Sue and Mel Twilley (daughter and son-in-law), Holly Chapman (granddaughter), Henry Chapman and Ava Chapman (grandson and great granddaughter), Sandra and Mervyn Wood (sister in law and husband) rep Mr and Mrs M Wood and family, and Mr and Mrs G Wood and family, Shirley Andrew (sister in law), Elaine Southern (niece) rep Steve and family, Rachel Andrew (niece) rep husband and family, David, Elaine, Louise and Bethany Andrew (nephew, wife and children), Celia and Peter Hall (niece and husband), Amanda Hall and Luke rep Sophie (great niece and partner), Alison North (great niece) rep Dan, Bailey and Bethany (husband and children), Geoffrey and Margaret Newmarch (nephew and wife) rep Nathan and Ben (children), Julia and Barry Higgins (niece and husband) rep Paul, Jason and Angela Andrew (step brother and wife), Peter and Yvonne Andrew (step brother and wife).

Other mourners included: Barbara Cross, Barbara Logan, Iris Copeland, Phyllis Quinn, Carol and Andy Graves, Tony and Mandy Johnson, Jean and Ivan Johnson, Paul and Joan Archer, Marilyn Markham, Helen Markham and Keith rep Pete Markham, Jack and Pauline Toyne, Suzanna Roberts, Ged Welburn, Brian Simpson, Sue and Jim Mallam rep Harry and Jayne, Joan Heywood rep Tom, Doreen and Terry Rowbottom, Shaun Dale and Sarah (Abbey Care), Becky Sipling rep her family and Rachel Day and family, Jean Graves and Ann Smith.