Obituary: Former soldier and firefighter was the “gentleman of Mytholmroyd”
A former soldier and firefighter from Mytholmroyd has died.
Stephen (Steve) Tidmarsh, 77, was described as the “gentleman of Mytholmroyd” by his son after he died on May 28.
Steve was born in Liverpool on August 16, 1948, and grew up in the Scotland Road area of the city.
He joined the 12th/13th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment at Grace Road Barracks in Liverpool, and later hitchhiked around the world.
It was while tomato picking in Jersey that he met his wife, Carol, who is from Mytholmroyd, and they later married in Halifax in 1970, and lived in Mytholmroyd.
Steve was a firefighter with Todmorden Fire Service for 20 years, during which time he was involved in the response to the 1984 Summit Tunnel fire, in which approximately 160 firefighters tackled the blaze which has been described as world’s worst underground transport fire.
After he retired, Steve became a driver for Calderdale Council, transporting children with special educational needs to school.
He enjoyed listening to Irish music and attending Irish festivals, and would frequently drive himself and Carol down to Essex to visit their grandchildren.
Steve was father to two — Steve and Sarah — grandfather to six — Paul, Tiffany, Autumn, Niamh, Oliver and Lilly — and great-grandfather to four — Harrison, Darcy, George and Miles.
Speaking of his father, Steve said: “He was a very quiet man but he was very respected and well known.
“He just had an aura about him. He was a very pleasant man; he would help anybody.”
Steve said his father’s funeral brought Mytholmroyd “to a standstill,” which took place at St Michael’s Church on June 18.