Tributes have been paid to retired catering teacher, former magistrate and long-serving member of West Cumberland Lions John Bolton following his death aged 72.

Mr Bolton, of Stainburn, Workington, died suddenly at home last Friday.

Born in Millom, Mr Bolton moved to Morecambe as a child and trained to be a chef before taking up an apprenticeship at the town's Winter Gardens.

In 1964 he married Nan and seven days later they moved to the USA where he spent three years working at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, where Pretty Woman was filmed.

The pair then returned to England and Mr Bolton went back to the Winter Gardens restaurant.

Later he spent about four years as head chef at Lancaster Royal Infirmary, where he was responsible for catering at several other hospitals.

He gained more qualifications at Blackpool Technical College before the pair signed up as a management couple, running restaurants.

They moved to Southport initially, then Lytham, before taking up a post in London.

During this time Mr Bolton was unexpectedly directed to a career path that would lead him to Workington.

His wife said: "Somebody out of the blue said, 'You'd make a brilliant teacher.'

"John saw this job in Workington that didn't need teaching qualifications."

In 1976 Mr Bolton took up a post teaching catering at West Cumbria College on Park Lane.

He achieved his certificate in education and stayed at the college, transferring to Lakes College at Lillyhall when it opened.

He had an impact on many students, some of whom remained in contact and still sought his advice many years on.

Mrs Bolton said: "So many students have rung up to say, 'Could John help me with such and such a thing.' The students he had are his legacy.

"Food was his passion so teaching it was for him.

"He'd do anything for his students and push them to make them go further."

He stepped back from teaching in 2002, aged 60, and spent five years working for Marston's as a trouble shooter before retiring.

Mr Bolton became a magistrate in 1991 and served until he turned 70, at which point he had to stand down.

He served mainly in Workington but stood in at other courts in the area.

He had a particular interest in licensing and helped to train bouncers at one time.

Gail Inglis, chairman of the North and West Cumbria Magistrate Bench, said: "He gave a tremendous public service.

"He had a great sense of humour and always had stories and jokes but in court he was very serious, had a real presence and always treated people fairly."

Mr Bolton later took on a role at Kendal College teaching about licensing.

He had been preparing for the new term in the days before he died.

Mr Bolton co-founded the Cumbria branch of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association and served as president for its first two years.

The association, now defunct, brought together hoteliers from across the county.

Another of his passions was community work and he spent 37 in West Cumberland Lions.

Mrs Bolton said: "Although we weren't Lions through and through like Blackpool rock we wouldn't miss anything to do with the club. Anything that needed doing, John would do it."

As the club's longest-serving surviving member, he was serving as vice president and preparing to be president next year as the club celebrated its 50th year and the 100th year of Lions International.

He had served as president in 1982-82, 2006-07 ad 2007-08.

He had also held other posts, including being treasurer, looking after the club's property and organising the annual charter dinner and other events.

For several years he was the key organiser of the annual Lions charity fair.

Alan Ellis, secretary of West Cumberland Lions Club, said: "It was never a dull moment when John was in your company, with his ancedotes of the catering trade and his and Nan's travels. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

Mr Bolton leaves his wife Nan and their nephew Garry Cross, of whom he was very proud.

Mrs Bolton said: "He was the best husband anyone could have and the best uncle to Garry that you could wish for.

"He did anything for anybody. He'd go out of his way. He was just a good man."

Mr Bolton's funeral will be held at noon on Wednesday at Distington crematorium.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Great North Air Ambulance and Blood Bikes Cumbria via Tom Edgar Funeral Services.