A REGULAR contributor to the Memories slot on The Westmorland Gazette's nostalgia pages has died, aged 85.

James Malcolm Wheatman wrote more than 60 articles and in 2010 published his first book Playboys of the Western Railway in paperback. This was followed by Daffodil Autumn on Kindle in 2016, on his 85th birthday.

Mr Wheatman was born at Wayn Gap, near Levens, on February 11, 1931, to Mary (nee Askew) and James “Jimmy” Wheatman. He was a talented pianist, becoming an Associate of the London College of Music in 1948. He was also a lifelong Jazz fan and Goon Show aficionado.

His first job, as a schoolboy, was delivering for Farrer's coffee house in Stricklandgate. At 14 he started as a printer’s apprentice at Bateman & Hewitson, working on a printing press now found in the Abbot Hall museum in Kendal. He later moved to The Westmorland Gazette as a mono-type operator. Mr Wheatman developed an interest in all things mechanical and electrical, repairing televisions and radios for friends.

In 1949, with local record shop owner Vincent Meakin, he started Malvin Mobile Cinemas showing films in village halls around Westmorland.

He married Vincent's daughter, Janet, in 1957. The couple had three children: Patricia, in 1959, who only survived a few weeks; Gary in 1960; and, Martin in 1963. The family moved to Aylesbury, in 1966, when he was offered a job at Hazel, Watson and Viney. Here he single-handedly built the kitchen, garage, pond and fashionable ‘sunroom’.

Computerisation of the printing industry then sparked an interest in home computers and creative writing.

He joined the Chiltern Writer's Group, and began creating crosswords and puzzles for the Bedgrove News. This he continued for the rest of his life.

He also wrote theatre reviews for the Bucks Herald: plays, winning the Myall Cup with a play performed by the Aylesbury Dramatic and Operatic Society; and poetry, including limericks and haiku, published in magazines including The Lady, Woman’s Weekly and The Countryman.

Following retirement, the couple moved back to Kendal, where he was a member of the U3A writers group.

He is survived by his wife, his two sons, and six grandchildren.