MORE than 300 people attended a requiem mass at Christ the King Church, Milnthorpe, to celebrate the life of Barry Ayre, who died aged 77.

Mr Ayre grew up during the war years and retained vivid memories of the German bombers flying over Barrow shipyard. Membership of the 16th Morecambe and Heysham Scouts was more important to him than academic studies at Lancaster Boys Grammar School, and introduced him to the mountains and joys of the Lake District.

At 19 years of age, National Service on the Island of Sylt in Germany gave him the opportunity to hitch hike around Northern Europe – “the university of life” he called it. He financed this by selling his cigarette rations to the Germans!

Back home, through his Catholic friends Mr Ayre was introduced to the Achille Ratti Climbing Club (ARCC). His enthusiasm and efforts helped raise thousands of pounds towards various Catholic projects in Lakeland, and he later became a trustee of the club.

It was appropriate that his marriage to Monica in 1989 was the first marriage to take place in the ARCC Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, Langdale, which he had been instrumental in building.

Mr Ayre spent 33 years working first as advertising manager, then circulation manager for the Morecambe Visitor newspaper. Describing himself as a frustrated journalist and printer, he then became editor of the magazine of the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Keer to Kent. As well as supporting Monica in her profession as a doctor, this became his pride and joy.

Membership of Arnside Ramblers gave him the opportunity to share his love of the fells with like-minded friends, and within no time he was a group leader. It was in Mr Ayre's nature to always to put more into an organisation than he took from it.

Health issues in later life meant that Mr Ayre was forced to pursue less active hobbies, and these included membership of Widening Horizons, The Mourholme History Society, The Arnside Archive Group, Probus and Baker’s Dozen. His sense of humour and extensive knowledge and information of the local area made him a welcome member.

Mr Ayre will be remembered by his many friends for his infectiously enthusiastic outlook on life and indomitable spirit, as well as his unfailing friendliness, wicked humour, corny jokes, but most importantly his smile. He is survived by his wife Monica, daughters Rachel and Ruth and two grandsons.