A FORMER shipyard worker and keen photographer has been remembered by his wife after he died aged 79.

David Briggs worked in the yard for nearly 20 years and later spent his time taking stunning photos for magazines and books.

Originally from Gateshead, Mr Briggs started working at the shipyard in 1968, joining as a technical author.

The grandad later worked his way up to become publications manager at the yard, producing technical handbooks.

Mr Briggs went to become a founding member of the Ulverston Photographic Society and devoted more time to taking photos following early retirement in the yard at the age of 56 in 1996.

He took photos of idyllic Lake District landscapes while indulging his love of walking on the fells.

Many of those photos were used to illustrate books written about the Lakes, including Wordsworth's Duddon Revisited, a Dream of Eden and Cockley Beck: A Celebration of Lakeland in Winter.

He also contributed photos to Cumbria Life magazine and worked as a wedding photographer.

Alongside photography, other interests included collecting minerals and rocks and classical and folk music.

A love of trains and steam engines was said to have derived from growing up next to Gateshead railway station.

Mr Briggs had two daughters and two grandchildren.

He married wife Jill in 1962 and lived with her in the village of Penny Bridge, near Ulverston.

Paying tribute to her husband, Mrs Briggs said: "He'll be missed by a lot of people.

"He was a gentleman, funny and kind.

"He was a keen mineral collector. He was very knowledgeable about all sorts of rock, if you gave him a piece he would be tell you which mine it came from.

"He also loved fellwalking, you could show him a picture of anywhere in the Lakes and would always know where it was."

Mr Briggs died in April following a long illness. A small funeral has already been held but the family has plans for a larger memorial later in the year.