Tributes have been paid to an adventurer, businessman and entrepreneur from the Newlands Valley.
Steve Beinder, who died on September 17 aged 70, was one of a consortium who created the Newlands Adventure Centre in 1989, and over the next 30 years helped to give thousands of schoolchildren and young people the opportunity to experience what the Lake District and Keswick in particular has to offer.
His passion for the outdoors was ignited during his early years as a river leader on the Ardeche in France, where he helped train recruits to be guides.
In the early 1980s Steve moved to Cumbria to become a manager at the Holiday Fellowship Stair Mill site, and when it came up for sale he joined forces with two other businessmen to purchase the building, which then became the Adventure Centre.
Debbie Beament, director of the Newlands Adventure Centre, said: “The growth of the outdoor sector in the area gave many people the chance to work in a fun-filled environment, and many local instructors will look back and remember Steve for the opportunity he gave them.
“He was passionate about the great outdoors and its benefits to young people in particular, and will be sorely missed by all that knew him.”
Steve retired in 2013, but still kept a keen interest in the business and channelled his newly-found free time into his other great passion of photography.
