A memorial service for broadcaster, political commentator and former MLC David Callister takes place tomorrow (Friday).

Mr Callister died peacefully at his home in Douglas on Wednesday last week at the age of 84. He leaves wife Ann and children Rachel, Simon, Jane and Jonathan, nine grandchildren and a great grand-daughter.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at St Thomas’ Church in Douglas tomorrow at 2.30pm.

David loved a dash of colour in his attire particularly orange and red, and his family says anyone attending is welcome to accessorise in that spirit.

Fellow broadcaster Charles Guard has paid a personal tribute, saying the island has lost an ’able and conscientious politician and a brilliant broadcaster who became the Voice of Manx Radio’.

He said: ’I first met David when he started at Manx Radio in the late 1970s, though by then he was already established as a regular personality on the station.

’It was in 1983, with the development of the newly-established current affairs programme Mandate that David became a full-time broadcaster and he was my colleague on that daily morning show for seven years.

’It was hard work - we conducted well over a thousand interviews every year - but tremendous fun and I couldn’t possibly have had a better colleague to work with.’

He said David was a ’professional to his finger tips’, always courteous, and his keen interest in politics and island life meant he could hold the politicians to account. ’He was gifted with the perfect radio voice. Clear but warm it was a voice with a unique and distinct character. It is a voice I shall miss. It was my privilege to have worked with him.’