A former manager of the Keswick branch of Boots has died aged 89.
Ian Proud had joined Boots as an apprentice and remained with the company for more than 40 years after qualifying as a pharmacist.
After a spell as a relief manager, he became manager of the firm’s Keswick branch before switching to Boots’ Penrith store in 1967.
While based in Keswick, Ian took up rock climbing, joined the round table, became a town councillor and competed in car rallies. After moving to Penrith, Ian became a founder the town’s Lions club and patron of the rugby club.
The youngest child of the late Will and Hilda Proud, Ian was born in Hartlepool.
He had a brother Bill and a sister Joan. The family relocated to Carlisle and in 1943 moved to Flusco, near Penrith.
While attending Penrith’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ian gained his love of rugby and he was still watching matches well into his 80s.
While working at Boots in Penrith, he met his future wife Sadie at the town’s rugby club. They married in 1968 on an extraordinarily wet day which saw the bridge over the River Eden at Langwathby washed away.
Later that year, Ian and Sadie moved to Frenchfield Gardens, Penrith, and their daughter Judith was born in 1970. In 1973 they moved to Brunswick Hall, which is still the family home.
In 1975, Ian and some friends founded Penrith Lions Club. He was the inaugural president and the Lions became the centre of his social life and charitable work for the rest of his life.
Through the Lions, he became involved in the Eden District Talking Newspaper. He then became editor of its quarterly magazine.
Ian was also a member of Penrith Chamber of Trade and, on retirement, became chairman. He was a governor of Penrith Grammar School and a member of Penrith Round Table.
Ian loved jazz and he and Sadie enjoyed going to jazz evenings at the rugby club. For his 80th birthday, a jazz night was organised at the George Hotel, Penrith, for his friends from the Lions Club.
Ian loved wine and in the 1970s took to making his own. His reds were particularly good and he won the inaugural Penrith winemaker of the year contest at one of the Lions May Day carnivals. In later years, he and Sadie joined the Wine Appreciation Society of Penrith.
Ian is survived by Sadie, daughter Judith, nephews Andrew, David and Graham and niece Hillary.
The funeral service was held at Carlisle crematorium.
