John McCluskey, a well known photographer and businessman who had eighty-two pictures printed in the Times & Star and Whitehaven News, has died after a battle with cancer.

Originally from Barrow, Mr McCluskey moved to Workington after the Second World War. His son Neil McCluskey said: “He was a good dad all around really.”

John met the late Irene McCluskey in Workington, who passed away in 2007. He had two children with Irene, Neil and Helen McCluskey, Helen has since married and become Helen Burns. 

Mr McCluskey later lived with his partner Lynn Newton until he passed away on January 7.

Neil said: “He’s always been a sort of inventor, a craftsmen and an engineer.”

Mr McCluskey built longbows as a hobby of which Neil said: “He was really proud”. He did so out of the finest quality materials taking care to ensure the bows were perfectly balanced.

He also carved wooden toys and bowls which he gave to members of the family. He even invented a new versatile kind of garden hoe.

Although an engineer by trade, John’s photographs were used in the Times and Star and the Whitehaven News. John’s son Neil said: “It gave him a lot of pleasure that side of things,” he said: “He was very proud of the pictures that were published.

Photography became a bonding point for Neil and John when Neil followed in his father’s footsteps, having his own photo of Derwent Water printed in the Times and Star.

“He’s had a full life” said Neil. Which obvious from his adventures in the world of engineering, woodwork and travel.

Mr McCluskey took an interest in art and travelled around the world. He can be seen in one picture on a trip to Holland at the age of seventy-two.

Neil said: “He did pretty well with his health all his life, he was fairly fit and active.” John used to enjoy rugby and taking his boat out onto the sea. Neil said: “He just about terrified my mam (Irene).”

John set-up his own engineering business, Hudson-Swan Engineering in 1980. The engineering firm started life from a small factory in Broughton Moor, John had no job at the time and did not know how he would pay the bills. However, the business flourished and is still going strong today from Peart Road, Workington. 

Ingenuity, precision and work ethic are inherited features in the McCluskey family. John carried his engineering and construction skills throughout every facet of his life.

John McCluskey was married to his wife Irene McCluskey for fifty-six years, he died in Seaton with his partner Lynn Newton and is survived by son Neil and daughter Helen Burns.