• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

    Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

    Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

  • Sport
    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

    Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

    Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

  • Sport
    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Victor Gubbins – a true Cumbrian gentleman

by CWH
7 April 2022
in Latest, Obituaries
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Victor Gubbins

Cumbria lost a true gentleman and lover of the natural world with the death of Victor Gubbins, of Eden Lacy, near Lazonby, aged 85.

Victor was known for his ability to get on well with virtually anybody he met, as well as his interest in country sports and dedication to enhancing the environment.

One of two children of Major Bill Gubbins and his wife Marjorie, he had a brother, John. Like his father before him, Victor was educated at Sherborne School, Dorset.

After leaving school he carried out his national service with a cavalry regiment, the Blues and Royals, spending some time in what was then West Germany, where strong NATO forces were stationed to counter the threat posed by the old Soviet Union.

He formed many lasting friendships during his time in the Army and acquired interests which did much to shape his life, including a love of horses. He was a reservist for some time after returning to the civilian world.

He went on to farm at Eden Lacy ­— which his parents had bought in 1931, before his birth ­— and then attended the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, where he qualified as a chartered surveyor.

After returning to the Eden area he supplemented his income from farming by working for local firm J. David King, running its Penrith office for a time, and later worked for a longer period for fine art auction house Christie’s. He discovered a number of rare paintings and other gems during his time as a regional representative for the firm.

It was in London that he met his future wife, Sarah-Anne Bigland, from the Kendal area, and the couple were married in 1960. They went on to have three sons, James, Nico and also Rupert, who sadly died in infancy.

The family at first lived in Little Salkeld and later at Hunter Hall, Great Salkeld, before moving to Eden Lacy following the death of Victor’s father in 1979.

Victor continued to run the farm at Eden Lacy, as he had over the preceding years, with his primary concern being the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment. He planted a great many trees on his land, and loved to see birds, fish and mammals thrive ­— although not the invasive grey squirrels which threaten to drive out the native reds.

He served as a director of Eden Rivers Trust up to 2008, and was proud to receive a certificate of merit for his conservation work at Eden Lacy in the 2003 Purdey Awards.

He always enjoyed shooting and fishing ­— especially the latter as the years advanced ­— and fished all over the world as well as on his beloved River Eden. He particularly enjoyed fishing on Scottish rivers.

He was a devoted supporter of the Ullswater Foxhounds and this interest brought him into contact with many hill farmers, who he greatly enjoyed talking with.

Another of Victor’s great interests was horse racing and other equestrian pursuits. Like many who had served with the Blues and Royals he was asked to act as a steward at the Horse of the Year Show, and went on to carry out the same role over many years at the Carlisle, Cartmel and Haydock racecourses.

He was involved with running the Lowther driving trials in the early years of the event, with one of the memorable spectacles he organised there being a camel race. He twice helped look after the Queen when she visited the trials.

He also helped look after royal visitors to Cumbria, including princesses Diana and Anne, when he served as high sheriff of the county in 1987. He was on the committee of Grasmere Sports and served as its chairman.

In his retirement, Victor became passionate about his walled vegetable garden and loved providing family and friends with produce from it.

His wife Sarah-Anne died last September. He is survived by his sons James and Nico. He had one granddaughter. Walker’s Funeral Directors, Penrith, have charge of the arrangements.

Related Posts

£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects
Latest

£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

3 July 2025
Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit
Latest

Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

3 July 2025
Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith
Latest

Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

2 July 2025
Plans for 100-caravan holiday park revealed
Latest

Plans for 100-caravan holiday park revealed

27 June 2025
MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges
Latest

MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges

20 June 2025
Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days
Latest

Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days

20 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

4 July 2025
Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

4 July 2025
£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

3 July 2025
Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

4 July 2025
Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

3 July 2025
Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

3 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald