A KENDAL man who dedicated decades of his life to his beloved rugby club has died aged 69.

Ian Hutton, better known as 'Egg' to many, was a former player, coach, chairman and president of Kendal RUFC.

Mr Hutton, who died on February 20 following a battle with lung cancer, started playing for the club in the 1960s and is described by his daughter Clare as a "rugby man through and through".

"He loved nothing more than welcoming officials, players and supporters from other clubs to Mint Bridge, which was his spiritual home," she said.

Kendal's current chairman Stephen Green said Mr Hutton would be a huge loss to the club.

"He held virtually every important position in the club and he was a stalwart supporter as well. He was always at the games, he travelled away on the players' coach, he was one of the guys who was always around.

"He's done a huge amount for the club over the years and it's always very sad when you lose someone like that."

Steve Whitehead, the club's director of rugby, added: "The thing about people like him is as a young man growing up as a part of the club they're a constant presence.

"They're always there, come rain or shine, and for a young man to have that consistency is invaluable."

Mr Hutton was born on August 7, 1947 and grew up as an only child, with parents Billy and Marie, on Captain French Lane in Kendal.

He was schooled in the town and from 16 went on to work for both Cumbria County Council and South Lakeland District Council as a management accountant.

In 1971 Mr Hutton moved to Vicarage Drive with his wife Sheila where they raised Clare, 39, and their son John, 42.

He retired in 2007 to focus on his vegetable plot, his stamp collection, his friends at Netherfield Bowling Club and Kendal Rugby Club, and his family.

A statement from the family said: "If the measure of a man is how much he will be missed, then he was an absolute giant. We have been so happy to read and hear the lovely comments people have made, all of them noting his wit and the laughs and friendship that they shared with him."

The funeral service will be at Lancaster Crematorium at 2pm on Friday, March 3, followed by refreshments at Kendal Rugby Club. Donations if desired to the Oncology Department, Grizedale Unit, Westmorland General Hospital c/o Haye & Parkinson, Captain French Lane, Kendal.