Tributes have been paid to a Cumbrian author and artist who died at the age of 92.

Allan Hodgson, of Ellerbeck Lane, Workington, died on January 18.

Originally from Millom, he moved to Workington in the 1960s to take up a job with Pearl Assurance Company.

His daughter Julie McKeating said: “He was many things to many people: he was giver of advice, he was humorous and always told jokes, he had a unique loving nature and connected people together.

“He loved writing his books and painting. More recently he was focusing on abstract art.”

Mr Hodgson was youth club leader at St John’s and ran the football club there.

He enjoyed organising events for charity, particularly Workington RNLI, of which his late wife Honor was a member, and Macmillan nurses, who supported Mrs Hodgson.

Mr Hodgson’s working life started in 1938 with an apprenticeship at Hodbarrow mine.

He later joined the RAF and served at a number of stations including Millom and Workington, before joining Pearl Assurance Company as a field advisor.

Mr Hodgson wrote two books of his memoirs, On and Off The Rocks and More About The Rocks. He also wrote a historical novel and a book about the equipment he helped to maintain called The Locos and Machinery of the Hodbarrow Mines, Millom.

At 17 Mr Hodgson learned to play the drums and was a semi-professional musician playing with dance bands such as the Serenaders, RAF Millom Station Band, Millom Home Guard Band and the Rhythmics. He played at venues including the Carnegie Theatre.

Mr Hodgson leaves daughters Julie McKeating and Vivien Hodgson, granddaughters Zoe and Simone, great-grandchildren Jake, Ella, Blaine and Sadie, and brother Frank.

Mrs McKeating added: “He was a very loving and caring father and he really enjoyed being a grandfather and a great-grandfather. What I liked about him is that he was very sociable and enjoyed the company of people of all ages.

“He loved his life and always saw the funny side of things. He loved nothing better than telling jokes.”