TRIBUTES have come pouring in for a Milnthorpe man with 'a heart of gold' and a passion for the stage who died following a collision on the A6 last week.

Joseph Eric Park, known to friends as Eric, sustained fatal injuries after the bike he was riding was in collision with a car on Church Street, Milnthorpe, near to the junction with St Anthony's Hill at 4.12am last Wednesday.

Mr Park, who leaves behind sister Annie, spent time living in Canada, worked as a cleaner at Kendal's ASDA store and for the past decade was employed as a milker at Low Sizergh Barn.

Anne Hutchinson worked on the customer service desk at ASDA at the same time that Mr Park was there.

"He was a lovely man and would always stop and talk to me while I worked on the customer service desk!," she said. "He made me laugh - as soon as he finished work he would change into his shorts in all weathers. God bless Eric."

Richard Park, who co-runs Low Sizergh Barn, said that 74-year-old Mr Park, who was born and raised on a farm in the Lyth Valley, worked as a milker from 4.45am to 8.30am, three mornings a week and every other weekend.

"He would come in his shorts no matter what the weather," he said. "And I knew he had arrived because I could hear him whistling.

"He was very methodical and he had an interest in bird watching. He would notice things like when flowers were out. He would often talk about his growing up in the Lyth Valley.

"He was a nice chap and I did wonder if he wanted to carry on milking but he said he really enjoyed it."

Mr Park was an active member of several operatic societies, including Staveley Amateur Operatic Society (SAOS), Kendal and District Gilbert and Sullivan Society (KADGASS) and Hornby Occasionals.

Mr Park, a tenor singer, joined KADGASS when it first formed in 1985 and went on to appear in every show since, making 35 appearances.

He featured in a number of minor roles such as the foreman in Trial by Jury, first yeoman in The Yeomen of the Guard and Francesco in The Gondoliers.

In 1993 he also joined SAOS for its production of Utopia Ltd and featured in every show that followed, except for 2006 when he was ill. More recently he performed with Hornby Occasionals.

Speaking on behalf of KADGASS and SAOS, Maddie Campbell said that Mr Park was an active member of KADGASS from its early formation.

"Eric’s gentle manner belied the man," she said. "He was fun loving, enjoyed a good joke and was a stalwart of the societies. He would collect fees, make the teas, help set the stage before productions and would always be ready to help to break up the stage the morning after the last night.

"Eric will be sorely missed by both societies, Staveley and KADGASS. This week, as the Kendal Society’s production of ‘The Mikado’ takes place, we know that there will be a gaping hole in the men’s chorus line but also in our hearts, for Eric Park."

Angela Dixon and David Towers, friends of Mr Park who sang with him at Staveley, Kendal and Hornby said that he was a 'true gentleman'.

"Eric was unique," Ms Dixon said. "He turned up to rehearsals in shorts even on the coldest days and for many years cycled enthusiastically to rehearsals on lighter nights. He was a very friendly man with an excellent, though often interesting, sense of humour.

"Eric never brought his troubles to anyone but was always willing to listen and be a supportive friend. Eric loved to read and would share his thoughts about his latest books with friends.

"Eric was very close to his sister, Annie, and they both enjoyed country dancing together. Eric always sported his kilt when he joined in with society ceilidhs and wanted to take part in every dance.

"Eric was a genuinely lovely man who will be sadly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have known him."