My father, Don Hassall, who has died aged 89, was an educationist and lay preacher who worked in Bradford for much of his career. A socialist and a pacifist, he met his wife, Zoe Wiley, a fever nurse, while working as a hospital orderly instead of undertaking military national service.
Don was born in Manchester, to May (nee Ridd), a clerical worker, and Arthur Hassall, who worked for the electricity board. The family moved to Hull, east Yorkshire, when Don was five and he attended Hymers college there. After graduating from Leeds University with a degree in English, French and history, Don became a teacher of religious education.
