Atha was born in Leeds on 27 August 1928, and educated at
Leeds Modern School, now
Lawnswood School, and the
University of Leeds. In
Ken Loach's film
Kes (1969) Atha played the part of the Careers Officer who genuinely tries to suggest various career possibilities to the completely uninterested schoolboy, Billy, but the interview's outcome "throws Billy on the scrap heap". He also had small roles in the Ken Loach films
Family Life (1971) and
Black Jack (1979). Atha's television credits include roles in the series
All Creatures Great and Small,
Sherlock Holmes,
Coronation Street,
Emmerdale and
Last of the Summer Wine. Atha served as
Lord Mayor of Leeds from 2000 to 2001. During his mayoralty he selected 18 "high-profile, well-known Yorkshire women" to act in turn as his Lady Mayoress, a role traditionally taken by the spouse or another family member of the mayor. Atha was appointed
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the
2007 Birthday Honours "for services to the Arts and to the community in Leeds", having earlier been appointed
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the
1991 New Year Honours "for services to Sport, particularly Sport for the Disabled". He died on 22 October 2022, at the age of 94. ==References==