Family pay tribute to heart attack victim

11:00am Friday 29th August 2008

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A GRIEVING family has paid tribute to a local roofer who died suddenly at the weekend while out with a group of friends.

Andrew John Gilpin, 41, had joined friends at Bootleggers Bar, on Finkle Street, Kendal, at around 10.15pm on Saturday (August 23) before suffering a seizure shortly afterwards.

Around 300 people evacuated the bar while paramedics assisted to him, but sadly he died at the scene.

Police confirmed that Mr Gilpin had died of natural causes at around 11pm and a spokesman for the coroner’s office said that he had died from a heart attack.

Andy grew up in Burneside, attending St Oswalds CoE Primary School and Longlands High School - now Queen Katherine School, Kendal - before working for Haygarth Construction in Kendal.

He became a self-employed roofer for a short time and then worked for James Cropper plc for nine years before returning to self-employment for the past four years.

Andy’s wife, Louise, paid tribute to "a fantastic husband" and "a fantastic dad" to 11-year-old Olivia Kate and nine-year-old Neave Georgia, and added, "he will be sadly missed."

The two met 17 years ago, when Andy was working on the roof of a flower shop that Louise, now 35, worked in. "I’d fill his buckets up with water," she recalled. The two married four years later in Crosthwaite.

An avid Manchester United and off-road motorcycle fan, Andy was the youngest son of the late Jack and Doreen Gilpin, loved brother of Glynis, Jimmy and Merle, a much loved brother-in-law and uncle and a dear son-in-law of Brian and Barbara Cleasby.

Andy was known as Eggy to many of his friends, a name that had stuck with him from the age of six when his friends had called at his house and saw that he had egg smeared around his mouth from his dinner.

The owners of Bootleggers Bar, Jonty Martindale and Tom Powney, said that the security team had acknowledged Mr Gilpin when he arrived at the bar, and confirmed that he "appeared in good health and was not intoxicated."

The bar was evacuated and remained closed for the remainder of the night, reopening at 4pm the following day.

Mr Martindale and Mr Powney praised the actions of their staff: "They acted with great skill and care in handling a terrible situation at a very busy time. All of the staff were visibly shocked by the whole experience," they said.

"We would also like to thank the members of general public who vacated the bar immediately and without complaint when asked to leave by security staff."

They added: "On behalf of Bootleggers Bar, we would like to offer our sincere condolences to the gentleman’s family and friends. Our thoughts are with them at this sad time."