The former manager of the Penrith branch of Boots The Chemists, a founder of the town’s Lions Club and patron of the town’s rugby club, Ian Proud, has died at the age of 89.
The youngest child of the late Will and Hilda proud, Ian was born in Hartlepool. He had a brother Bill and a sister Joan.
The family moved to Carlisle and then in 1943 to Flusco, near Penrith.
Following the move, Ian transferred to Penrith’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.
It was while studying there that he gained his love of rugby. He was still watching matches well into his 80s.
After gaining his school certificate he joined Boots The Chemists as an apprentice and remained with the company for more than 40 years.
He qualified as a pharmacist and after a spell as a relief manager he became manager of the firm’s Keswick branch.
While based in Keswick he took up rock climbing, joined the Round Table, became a town councillor and competed in car rally races.
It was in 1967 that he became manager of the Boots branch in in Penrith and it was while working there he met his future wife Sadie at the town’s rugby club.
They married in March, 1968, on an extraordinary wet day which also saw the bridge over the River Eden at Langwathby washed away.
Later that year Ian and Sadie moved to Frenchfield Gardens, Penrith and their daughter Judith was born in September, 1970. In 1973 they moved to Brunswick Hall, and it is still the family home today.
In 1975 Ian and some friends founded Penrith Lions Club. He was the inaugural president and the Lions became the centre of his social life and charitable work for the rest of his life.
Through the Lions he became involved in the Eden District Talking Newspaper. He then became editor of is quarterly magazine and was always on the lookout for material.
Ian was also a member of Penith Chamber of Trade and, on retirement, took on the position of chairman.
He became a governor of Penrith Grammar School, was adviser to Kirkby Stephen Grammar School Young Enterprise and was a member of Penrith Round Table.
Ian loved jazz and he and Sadie enjoyed going to jazz evenings at the rugby club. For his 80th birthday a jazz night was organised at the George Hotel, Penrith, for all his friends from the Lions Club.
He loved wine and in the 1970s took to making his own. His reds were particularly good, and he won the inaugural Penrith wine maker of the year contest held at one of the Lions May Day carnivals. In later years he and Sadie joined the Wine Appreciation Society of Penrith.
Ian is survived by his wife Sadie, daughter Judith, nephews Andrew, David and Graham and niece Hillary.
The funeral service was held at Carlisle crematorium, with arrangements in the hands of Walker’s Funeral Directors, Penrith.
