TRIBUTES have poured in for a trailblazer in the running community who was known for his love and commitment to the Lakeland fells.

Heartfelt tributes have flooded in for 92-year-old great grandfather John Albert Nettleton MBE who died on Christmas Eve.

Mr Nettleton leaves behind his son and daughter, Robert and Sarah Nettleton, five grandsons and four great grandchildren.

Mr Nettleton was born in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire and moved to Carlisle as an infant.

After doing well at Carlisle Grammar school, and after National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Mr Nettleton went to on study at University of Durham graduating in 1952.

Mr Nettleton was involved with a community centre in Carlisle and was a member of the rambling club where he met and married Margaret Guy in 1956. They were married for 64 years until Margaret died in September last year.

In 1959 Mr Nettleton moved to Cockermouth where he led the establishment of an adult education centre 'Derwent Centre'.

However, the evening work was not compatible with family life and he moved into further education teaching at Workington FE college.

In 1968, Mr Nettleton became the director of Brockhole National Park Centre in Windermere.

His son, Robert, described his dad as 'very much a people person'.

"Brockhole National Park Centre was ideal for him," he said.

"It brought together his interests, hobbies, organisational skills and his love of the Lake District. He was very much a people person and a diplomat.

"He navigated the initial challenges from the local MP and brought local business, the public and organisations on side."

In recognition of his contribution to Brockhole and the National Park Mr Nettleton was awarded the MBE in 1977.

After retiring from Brockhole in his late 50s, Mr Nettleton continued to work independently, leading walking holidays, writing, and giving talks to tour groups on life in the Lake District, on Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter or national parks.

He was a founder member of the Border Harriers in Carlisle, the Lake District Mountain Trial and contributed to Fifty Years Running: a history of the mountain trial.

He was the lead organiser of the first Windermere Marathon in 1982 - an event that they held for four years and was later taken over by the Brathay Trust and is now a key event on the runners’ calendar.

He was also a member of the local group who established the Park Run at Fell Foot – an event he ran in nearly 100 times in his 80s and where, week in and week out, if not running he marshalled.

His son, Mr Nettleton, added: "He was known by so many people in Cumbria as a man who loved the Lakeland fells – walking, running and in his commitment to the national park."

In his final years Mr Nettleton lived in independent living facility Nine Oaks in Windermere - the same place his own mother Amy had lived in her later years.

Jim Walker, Chair of Cumbria Tourism, met Mr Nettleton when on placement in 1980, describing him as 'a generous and modest man'.

He said: "He was very able and knowledgeable with a clear love of the National Park.

"A keen fell-runner he was still active at 90 I believe and volunteering for park runs. A real trail blazer and passionate enthusiast for the outdoors, he will be missed by many who were influenced by his infectious enthusiasm for the Lake District."