Former National Farmers’ Union group secretary Alan Kitching, Penrith, died at the Eden Valley Hospice, aged 73.
The son of the late Ruth and James Kitching, he was born and raised in Penrith and attended the town’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.
He had one sister, Joan.
After leaving school, he worked for a short time for Eden-based firm Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s before joining the staff of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
He trained to be a group secretary in Lincoln and then moved to Chester, where he met his first wife, Joan, with whom he had two children, Amanda and Steve.
He then moved to Corbridge, Northumberland, before succeeding his father as NFU group secretary in Penrith — a position he held until taking early retirement in the early 90s.
In 1996, he met his second wife, Wendy, and the couple married in 2006.
He was step-father to Neil and Graham.
Outside work, Alan was a keen golfer and won a number of trophies over the years as an active member of the Penrith club.
He had a great love of music, being a particular fan of the band Dire Straits and its frontman Mark Knopfler, and played the guitar himself.
He also enjoyed ski-ing in the UK and overseas, often in the company of his sons Graham and Neil, and loved to travel.
He spent many happy hours riding his Harley Davidson motorbike.
In 2013, the family moved to New Zealand for five years before returning to Penrith.
Alan is survived by his wife Wendy, Penrith; children Steve, Wigton; Graham, Hexham; Neil, New Zealand; and Amanda Davidson, Brampton; sister Joan Ostle, Little Strickland; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A family memorial service takes place today.
Walker’s Funeral Directors, Penrith, have charge of the arrangements.
