A CHAMPION for Salisbury who was instrumental in saving the city’s cinema and raising funds for the Playhouse and restoration of the cathedral spire has died aged 94.

Alan Richardson was born in a house adjacent to his mother’s haberdashery in Catherine Street in 1923, overlooking the Odeon he would come to save some fifty years later, before moving to Kent.

His daughter, Sara Hubbard, said he had a “passion for film and the silver screen from a young age”, and this led to a 27-year career with the BBC, where he was involved in building the broadcaster’s film archives and later overseeing operations on shows including Dad’s Army, The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise and Monty Python.

In 1976, Alan returned to his birthplace of Salisbury, where he later bought a house in New Street.

“Salisbury was the love of his life, the first being my mother, of course,” Sara said. “He had such a passion for this city and he worked tirelessly for the good of it.”

READ: Heroic driver dragged woman from car seconds before it burst into flames >>>

His dedication became apparent in the 1980s, when he spearheaded a successful campaign to save Salisbury’s Odeon from demolition. In a 1986 report, after a two-year fight which resulted in the demolition being called off, the Journal (which supported the campaign) congratulated him, adding: “Thousands of local people will want us to say, ‘well done and thank you’.”

Alan was also instrumental in raising funds for the city’s current Playhouse building and supporting works to Salisbury Cathedral’s spire.

Sara added: “For the love of Salisbury he became a city guide, a cathedral steward and guide, a Tower Tour guide, he relaunched and edited The Cathedral News, he sat on the board of directors at The Playhouse, he was president of the Theatregoers’ Association, he created the theatre archives and he undoubtedly kept every bookshop in business with his insatiable love of books.

“It is my belief that this city is all the poorer for having lost one of its greatest champions.”

Alan made the papers again in 1994, when a hot-air balloon crash landed in his garden.

Then aged 70, Alan was relaxing in his garden in New Street when he saw the balloon descend, grabbed a rope dangling from it and guided it to safety on his lawn.

After the incident he told the Western Daily Press: “It was all very amusing and rather startling. I wasn’t expecting any visitors.”

He lived at the house in New Street until 2015 when he moved to Braemar Lodge care home. Sara said: “Their kindness to him and their love for him, and their support for the family, was awe-inspiring.”

The following year, Alan was awarded France’s highest honour - the Legion d’honneur, for his involvement during the landings on D-Day, when, as a 20-year-old First Lieutenant, he helped to deliver a deadly cargo of ammunition to the Normandy beaches.

Sara said: “To me, my brother and my sisters (Karen, Stephen and Louise), he was the most loving and committed father. To our mother, Pauline, he was her knight in shining armour - a gentle, kind and loving husband- and to his friends and colleagues he was a loyal, respectful and charming gentleman.”

Alan’s funeral was held on Monday at Salisbury Cathedral, a building he loved throughout life, and Sara said the family were “very blessed to have the amazing voices of the Farrant Singers” during the ceremony.