An osteopath who treated patients at his Penrith clinic for 30 years, Adam Hill has died suddenly, aged 61.
Adam grew up in Clitheroe, Lancashire, the fourth of five children of the late Ed and Kate Hill, of Hartsop and Penrith.
He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackburn, and went on to study human physiology at Chelsea College, London University, where he met Charlotte, his wife of 34 years.
After graduating, Adam came to Cumbria — to where his parents had moved in the mid-1980s — and worked for four years alongside his brother, Nick, running a family-owned trout farm at Sockbridge Mill. These were challenging but memorable years and forged in Adam a love for Cumbria.
He later moved with Charlotte back to London for four years’ study at the British School of Osteopathy, before returning to Penrith to set up his own practice.
This was at first based at the Stricklandgate Dental Practice, before Adam acquired a property on Brunswick Square which became the Brunswick Clinic.
From here he treated hundreds of patients over the years — many of whom became good friends.
The clinic became a thriving hub for other alternative practitioners and later Adam set up the Stanwix Clinic, in Carlisle, and worked between the two.
Adam and Charlotte — who teaches chemistry at Caldew School — had two daughters, Amy, an architect, and Dora, a teacher, both now living in London.
After living at Wordsworth Street and then Brunswick Square, Adam and Charlotte built their own house in Penrith at Poplar Vale, Nicol Hill.
The house — in which the family lived for 15 years — was designed by Adam’s father, Ed, himself an architect.
Adam’s long-standing love of cookery was well known to his friends and family, whom he enjoyed entertaining royally. Whether baking, catering for a party or producing delicious pickles and preserves, being in the kitchen was one of the central joys of his life.
Gardening was another deeply held interest and after completing a garden design course at Newton Rigg, Adam worked professionally in garden design for a time.
As well as being a knowledgeable plantsman, he was also highly accomplished in crafts including knitting — producing very many beautiful knitted garments for himself and his family.
Scottish dancing and classical music were among his other loves — he was a member of Penrith Singers for a number of years and he was an active supporter of the Liberal Democrats as well as for a time chairman of governors at Penrith’s North Lakes School.
Adam, Charlotte, Amy and Dora shared a love of West Wales — a place Adam had visited since childhood and with which he had a deep sense of connection. They also enjoyed wonderful holidays in recent years skiing at Les Gets with other members of the family.
At the time of his death, Adam and Charlotte were preparing to embark on a new adventure.
They had moved back to Brunswick Square and bought a farmhouse in rural France, which they intended to renovate. Adam planted the gardens there during the summer, before being taken ill.
Adam will be remembered by his family and friends as a man of quick wit — laughter was never far away in his company — and boundless energy. He had good hands, and used them to help others, and to enrich the world around him with his creativity.
He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, daughters Amy and Dora, and Amy’s partner, Neil. Also his brothers and sisters and their partners — Nick and Karen, of Barton, near Pooley Bridge; Simon and Judith, of Somerset; Jane and Jon Hatt, of London; and Emily and Mike Atherton, of Penrith.
A family funeral service is to be held at St Patrick’s Church, Patterdale, followed at a later date by a celebration of Adam’s life, when circumstances allow. Donations, if desired, in Adam’s memory can be made to Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, c/o Richardsons Funeral Directors, Victoria Road, Penrith, who have charge of the arrangements.
