THE family of a devoted grandad and well-respected boss of a garden centre has vowed to continue his proud legacy for years to come following his sudden death.

Lou Charnley, who owned Charnley’s Garden Centre in Dalton, has died at the age of 73 after suffering a heart attack.

Lou grew up in Rawlinson Street, Dalton alongside his siblings Eleanor, Graham and the late Fred.

Raised by his grandparents Ellie and Lewi, and later his two uncles Jim and Pip, Lou’s upbringing helped him become a ‘generous, kind and hardworking’ man.

His first job was on Walter Hool’s farm at the age of 14, working 12-hour days full of hard graft.

The Westmorland Gazette: Lou Charnley, who owned Charnley’s Garden Centre in Dalton, has tragically died at the age of 73 after suffering a heart attackLou Charnley, who owned Charnley’s Garden Centre in Dalton, has tragically died at the age of 73 after suffering a heart attack

His family said: “Lou has always been a big family man growing up with his brother Fred where they shared the same passion for animals, often turning up at nannas with all kinds of birds of prey, wild cats, a miner bird called Peppi, which swore all the time.

“Us kids thought it was hilarious and they even brought a monkey home once which only lasted three weeks as it wrecked the house.”

A keen dancer, Lou ‘lived his life to the full’ growing up in the late 60s and 70s, often hitting up the dancehalls in Urswick and Morecambe.

When Lou was 22 he settled down and met his first wife Carol, and the pair had two children: Marc and Leeanne.

It was on the roads working for an Irish firm called DJ Ryan’s where Lou really found his place.

His family said: “Lou and his brothers Graham and Fred relished the opportunity and would work together for the best part of 20 years.”

In the early 90s Lou met his soulmate Marie Goodings and welcomed her three children Jane, Jodie and Becky into the family.

His family said: “Lou thought of [them] as his own and they looked at him as a father figure.”

The pair used to love going on holidays and embarking on adventures.

His family said: “We laughed a lot as Lou loved a good laugh. Lou would always be putting everyone else first - never complaining and always being there, whether it would be fixing things, giving lifts or driving the grandkids round in his gator which he loved as much as the kids.

The Westmorland Gazette: Lou Charnley, who owned Charnley’s Garden Centre in Dalton, has tragically died at the age of 73 after suffering a heart attackLou Charnley, who owned Charnley’s Garden Centre in Dalton, has tragically died at the age of 73 after suffering a heart attack

“He never said no to anybody. He always turned up, usually late, but he always turned up and never asked for anything in return.”

When Lou hit his early 40s he bid farewell to DJ Ryan’s and discovered his passion for growing plants.

Firstly bedding plants with his sister Eleanor, he then moved to Kirkby when he bought a small farm called Low Ghyll, where he set up with his brother Fred and later, joined later by Marc and Leeanne.

The family sold plants around the shops, traded at car boot sales and embarked on 200-mile trips to flower auctions.

This set the foundations for what Charnley’s is today. In 1997, the family set about building, what was at first, a plant centre that grew and sold plants to the public.

Lou’s family said: “This is what Lou loved: having the crack with people, helping them with his gardening knowledge and getting to know new people every day, barely missing a day in 20 odd years.”

Charnley’s Home and Garden Centre grew over the years, introducing a café and bakehouse which Lou very much enjoyed.

“Lou was proud of what we had all achieved at Charnley’s and he made some lifelong friends which were as good as his family in his eyes,” the family said.

“He was so proud. The only clothes most of us saw Lou in were his Charnley’s shirts.”

Lou’s son Marc said his dad’s passing ‘will leave a massive hole’ in the hearts of all who knew him.

The Westmorland Gazette: The Charnley FamilyThe Charnley Family

He said: “Dad has always put everyone else first and never asked for anything in return.

“He was so content with what he had, he would share his knowledge and time with people unconditionally. He had everything he needed to live a fulfilled life: a loving family which he devoted all his time and love for all, but especially his many grandkids.

“He thought a lot of the people that worked at the garden centre – he treated them as family.

“He had my back all way. He will leave a massive hole not just in the garden centre but to everyone who knew him. His legacy will be Charnley’s and I feel proud to take the business forward in his memory.

“I am sure the legend of Lou Charnley and the many stories will be passed down in years to come.”