Talented photographer Jonathan “Jon” Allen, who worked for many years aboard the Ullswater Steamers, has died suddenly, aged 75.
Originally from Suffolk, Jon had moved to Great Asby with his late wife Olwen in 2004.
The couple met while living at Shotley, in Suffolk, and moved to Cumbria when Olwen, always known as Olly, retired from her job as a diagnostic radiographer.
Jon had various jobs, at one time working as a painter and decorator, then as an HGV driver. After the move to Cumbria he landed a job aboard the Ullswater Steamers, which he did for several years.
Among their other interests, Jon and Olly shared a talent for field archery and both competed in the sport at international level. At one stage they both took part in the European championships in Sweden, with Olwen taking top spot in the ladies’ section and Jon highly placed among the men.
They were sponsored to go to America for a month through their archery, but the pleasure of the trip was overshadowed somewhat for Jon by a deeply held dislike of flying.
Another of Jon’s talents was for fishing, and he came to excel at the sport of tournament casting,
He was awarded a trophy for his performance in a competition at Lowther in 2006.
Family and friends remember him as someone who “always had a camera in his hands”. He was a prolific and skilled photographer and a regular contributor to the Herald’s “Your View” readers’ photograph pages.
Several of his images were selected for inclusion in the Herald’s annual calendars over the years.
Jon was a dab hand with Photoshop, and loved tinkering with images for family and friends for his own and their entertainment. He had a great sense of fun and was also very “handy”, and took pleasure in creating some lovely bird tables for Olly, who was a keen bird watcher.
In a typical bit of fun, one of these was labelled “High flyers’ restaurant”. A funeral service was held at St Peter’s Church, Great Asby, on Monday, 26th June. Donations in Jon’s memory will be given to the RSPB.
Arrangements were in the hands of Glyn Jones Funeral Directors, Appleby.
