He was born in the town and died in Brighouse, aged 84, in 1999. Mr Ellis became famous first as a football referee and later as a TV star in his role as an adjudicator on the top TV show It's A Knockout. He also sat on football's Pools Panel.

During World War Two Mr Ellis was a physical training instructor with the RAF 51 Bomber Squadron at Snaith, near Goole.

The squadron has a thriving association and memorial garden at the old airfield, with plaques dedicated to servicemen and women.

Spokesman Tony Eaton said Mr Ellis regularly attended reunions and a plaque would be dedicated to him next year.

He said: "We would like to contact Arthur's two sons. They might be interested in attending the dedication of the plaque to their father when we next meet in April 2009."

Mr Ellis became a football referee at 22.

He refereed the FA Cup semi-final between Spurs and Blackpool in 1948 and in 1950 officiated at the World Cup Finals in Brazil.

At 37 he refereed the 1952 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Newcastle and went on to ref 73 internationals and the 1956 European Cup Final. His most controversial game was the 1954 World Cup Final in Switzerland between Brazil and Hungary when he sent off three players.

After retiring as a referee at 47, he appeared regularly on TV as a judge in It's A Knockout and its international version, Jeux Sans Frontiere.

Mr Eaton can be contacted at tony@songbird123.plus.com or 50 Turker Lane, Northallerton DL6 1QA.