JACK Howarth, formerly of Kendal, has died at a York nursing home, aged 92.

Born on August 13, 1914, in Rossendale, Lancashire, Mr Haworth left school at 15 and worked for seven years in administration at Rawtenstall Town Hall, where his father was deputy town clerk. Active involvement in scouting led Mr Haworth to train as a teacher at the City of Leeds Training College from 1937-39.

Mr Haworth's love of the Lake District began on a school camping visit to Easedale in 1929. His first teaching post was at Starnthwaite Approved School, at Crosthwaite.

A conscientious objector during the war, he was allowed to continue to teach at two special schools in the Ribble Valley. Riversmead, run by National Children's Homes, was for German and Austrian refugee boys, and Dunnow Hall was a special school for "maladjusted" children. Mr Haworth's responsibilities included outward bound activities and sport. Mr Haworth had been a school champion in middle distance and cross-country running.

Mr Haworth and his wife, Florence, were married in the Zion Chapel, Kendal, on November 25, 1939. They had two children - Roger and Rosalind. However, the war years prevented them setting up home properly in Kendal until 1945.

In 1944, he was appointed as a master at Stramongate Boys School, later to become Longlands Boys School.

Mr Haworth retired in 1974.

He served on the executive committee of the Friends of the Lake District. He was also an active supporter of the National Trust and of the Drystone Walling Association.

Mr Haworth was the local secretary of the Workers' Education Association, and later set up the Kendal Teachers' Centre. He taught adult literacy at Bela River Open Prison for more than ten years, from 1957.

Mr and Mrs Haworth were members of Kendal Civic Trust. He was instrumental in facilitating the rebuilding of the old Gas Works Meter House faade at Abbot Hall Art Gallery barn and the restoration of the Williamson Monument at Ings.

The couple were Friends of Abbot Hall Art Gallery, and were active founder members of the Kendal Group of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. They were founder members of the Brewery Arts Centre in 1972 and keen supporters of the South Westmorland Stage and Screen Society, and other local theatre groups.

They were also active in the local groups of the Peace Pledge Union and Fellowship of Reconciliation. They also joined the Religious Society of Friends. Mr Haworth was active in work with the young people's group, and was superintendent of the burial ground on Sedbergh Road for some years.

Mr Haworth moved to York in 2000 to live with his daughter, Rosalind, a year after the death of his wife.

He is survived by his two children and three grandchildren.

A meeting to celebrate the life of Jack Haworth will be held on Sunday, November 5, at the Friends Meeting House, Stramongate, Kendal, at 2.30pm.