RELATIVES and friends will be joined by former colleagues, choristers, servicemen and pupils to celebrate the life of a centenarian in style.

Following on from the sad passing of well-known musician Alan Bolt from Leece the choir he conducted will perform a piece penned by him at his funeral.

Written to God Be In My Head, the ensemble by Mr Bolt will be sung to what is expected to be a packed Aldingham Church on Thursday at 11am.

Born in London in March 1919 Mr Bolt attended King’s College where he studied English.

After graduating he joined up with the Royal Signals and fought in the North African desert.

Captured by the Italians, he was passed over to the Germans and eventually landed in a POW camp at Mühlberg, on the Elbe river in what became East Germany.

There he formed an orchestra made up of inmates from many different countries, before liberation by the Russians in 1945.

In peacetime Mr Bolt taught English at his old school, as well as taking part in amateur dramatics, running his own orchestra, conducting choirs, learning to ride and joining the Surrey Union Hunt.

By the time he retired from teaching he was director of curriculum at Esher College, a large sixth form in Surrey, and he moved up to Cumbria to be with Alison, his wife, in 1984.

He became chairman of governors at Dendron School, then of Low Furness School when Dendron, Scales and Urswick schools merged.

He celebrated his 100th birthday with his wife Alison over two days with a party for more than 130 guests at Rampside Village Hall; a quiet lunch for two at the Wilson Arms, Torver; and a hunt breakfast of champagne and cake with the North Lonsdale Foxhounds.

He passed away at home with his wife by his side on the morning of Saturday March 23.

Mrs Bolt said she had received endless calls from well-wishers and friends who planned to attend her husband’s funeral on Thursday.

Many of those who knew Mr Bolt through his many varied interests are expected to head to Aldingham Church for the service.

She said: “The choir will perform an ensemble he wrote, which is a lovely touch, and we hope the church will be full.

“I’ve had calls from two groups of people from Manchester who will be coming and from people in Harrogate.

“He had an absolute ball for his 100th birthday and he certainly lived life to the full.

“We expect his funeral to reflect that; and to be a true celebration of his life.”