A MAN who worked in the licensed trade across the Lake District for much of his career has died, aged 88.

William 'Bill' Irwin was the son of Robert and Ethel Irwin, ran the Travellers Rest in Barrow during the Second World War before moving on to the Salutation Hotel in Ambleside followed by the Brookside at Windermere.

During this period Mr Irwin met Sir Malcom Campbell during his Bluebird water speed record attempts.

Mr Irwin started work for Collin Croft Brewery in Kendal in 1946, and after a period of National Service in the Royal Corp of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), returned to the brewery.

By this time his parents who had moved to The Commercial Hotel in Grange-over-Sands (now The Commodore) and they later took on the Strickland Arms at Sizergh.

It was during this period that Mr Irwin met his future wife Doreen Hodgson, also of Grange-over-Sands, and they married in 1953.

Shortly after, they moved to High Harrington with Mr Irwin taking on a new role at Workington Brewery and becoming a special constable.

A move to Cheshire followed a change of job to Scottish & Newcastle Breweries in 1966, and shortly after, a further move to the Fylde Coast.

Mr Irwin's life-long interests of fishing, caravanning and cooking continued into his retirement. He had a love of dogs and always had one at his side.

After 65 years of marriage Mr Irwin died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital following a short illness. He leaves his wife Doreen, sons David and Christopher, and their respective wives, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.