A Keswick man who spent most of his working life in local government at both parish and district council level has died suddenly, aged 93.
Born at Brampton in 1927 and educated in the town, Arnott Routledge and his sister lived in Carlisle for some time before the family moved to Irthington, where his parents ran the Salutation Inn for many years.
It was while he was at the Salutation Inn that he first met Mary Black, who became his wife a few years later. Mary was a land girl working on the garden at The Green, a farm next door to the pub.
Mary was originally from Ambleside and, although they met in Irthington, it was not until a few years later at a dance at The Crown & Mitre in Carlisle that they got to know each other.
Arnott spent 18 months at home helping in the pub before joining the navy at the age 17.
He served aboard The HMS Indefatigable before he was demobbed in 1948 and immediately joined the civil service.
From 1950 to 1955, he worked for Border Rural District Council before he got a job, which came with a house, at Holbeach in Lincolnshire for East Elloe Rural District Council.
He stayed in digs until the house was ready and then came back for Mary and the couple were married at Irthington Church on February 11, 1956.
Over the years, Arnott continued to work in local government, after East Elloe Rural District Council (1956-1958), he moved to Pickering Urban District Council (1958-1959) in North Yorkshire.
The couple had their first child, Ian, at Holbeach before moving to Keswick in 1959 where Arnott worked for Keswick Urban District Council.
He then moved on to a post with Wigton Urban District Council.
While living in Keswick, the couple had a daughter, Alison, then later twins, Hilton and Karen.
In 1974, Allerdale District Council was formed and Arnott secured a job as chief administration officer and worked there until he retired in 1984.
Both Arnott and Mary helped to run and raise money for the Keswick Old Folks’ Do for many years.
They were also members of the Conservative Club in Penrith Road, and helped on the committee.
Arnott was also a member of Keswick Round Table, Keswick Probus Club and the 41 Club.
Once he retired, he liked nothing better than working on his allotment and later in his garden and loved growing vegetables in his greenhouse at his home in Latrigg Close.
Both Arnott and Mary were devoted to their sons and daughters, as well as their three granddaughters, Rachel, Laura and Emily.
Mary died in 2018 and Arnott missed her terribly but found comfort in the family they had devoted their lives to.
A funeral service was held at St John’s Parish Church, Keswick, on Tuesday.
