David ‘Sandy’ Roydes dies aged 71

David ‘Sandy’ Roydes, a former history teacher at Siddal Moor High School and later a lecturer at De La Salle/Hopwood College, died at his home at Southerness, Dumfries and Galloway, on Friday 25 March, aged 71.

Mr Roydes played a major part in the in the preservation of the former Hopwood Corn Mill in the 1970s and 1980s in association with friends and colleagues from Hopwood College.

He was a founder member of Middleton Civic Association in the 1970s, being its first Secretary and later it’s chairman.

Mr Roydes and the Association made great, but ultimately unsuccessful, efforts to establish a Heritage Centre and Museum in Middleton.

Success, though, did attend their efforts, in association with the Groundwork Trust, to establish a small garden and seating area on the former site of Samuel Bamford’s house on Cheapside, for which they won an award.

He was often asked for his views on local environmental and historical matters by both the local press and BBC radio and television.

Mr Roydes was a former member of the Rotary Club of Middleton and took a full part in its activities, being for a time the leader of one of its sub-committees.

He was also a supporter of the Old Grammar School project, but a plan he put forward for its development was not taken up.

At Southerness he was involved in the running of the local (private) lighthouse, and was also connected with the John Paul Jones Museum at Kirkbean, and other local community projects.

Mr Roydes is survived by his wife Elaine and their two sons, James and William.