Penrith man John William Birkbeck lost his long battle with cancer on Saturday, 10th August, at Kingston Court Care Home, Carlisle. John was a well known Brother in the Buff Club since the 1960s and son of the late Penrith councillor Mary (Ada) Birkbeck and vintage motorbike enthusiast John (Jack) Birkbeck.
He lived a full life which led him from Robinson’s Infants’ School and Tynefield School to a career starting as a mechanic, during the 1960s, at his father’s garage on Bluebell Lane.
He was a vehicle fitter and spent years helping to establish the UK’s motorways and working in various quarries in Cumbria, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Spare time found him collecting vintage cars, helping Jack at steam rallies and attending hunt meets across the Northern fells, as well as visiting the many pubs and dance halls of Cumberland and Westmorland.
In 1975 his marriage to Penrith lass Angela Vernon led to a quiet life, moving from Welsh Yard to Newbiggin, Stainton, relocating later in the 1980s to Lordswood, Kent, for his daughter to attend Rochester Grammar School.
He worked for many civil engineering companies and fondly remembered his days living in site caravans as the M6 was constructed, as a fitter at McAlpine, contracting in Australia, as a mechanic for Thanet Metals and at Kemsley Paper Mill.
After his only daughter joined the Royal Navy, as a helicopter engineer, he divorced and returned to Penrith to reside in Pategill and on Hutton Hill. He was a regular face at the auction rooms and charity shops where he filled his days with his passion for collecting books, antiques and stamps.
Daily trips around on the bus network took him everywhere from Cockermouth to Kendal and he thrived on these days out, often returning home with newfound treasures having had a good yatter with other bus passengers.
He recently found much joy in discovering his genealogy and, with his daughter, researched the Birkbeck family tree back to the 5th Century. They made a range of fascinating finds, from the renowned Conchie brothers to the Clifford family, and he chuckled at being the grandson of kings on both sides of the border.
John leaves behind his beloved daughter Catherine and grandsons Ewan and Benjamin. He was particularly proud of the boys as they prepare to head to sixth form and university.
He is also survived by his sisters Christine, Carole and Susan. He will dearly miss seeing his family and close friends, especially Margaret, John, Alan and Cousin Malcolm. Many people in Penrith have known John throughout his life and he wanted to be remembered by asking his friends to simply raise a glass in his name.
He insisted that there be no funeral, memorial or flowers, instead requesting donations to Carlisle hospital cancer unit for the excellent nursing staff there. A philanthropic Buff to the end, he also left his body to medical science in the hope that he can help, in some way, to find a cure for cancer.
