Former Oxenhope man Hugh Bottomley has died aged 83.

He was born in the village and lived there until the 1950s.

Mr Bottomley had a great love of the outdoors, which began when he joined the New Church Rambling Club.

He was a keen cyclist, hill walker and potholer. He was a life-long member of the Youth Hostel Association and Craven Pothole Club, and spent many weekends guiding members of the public round Gaping Ghyll.

He was also a keen Scouter, initially running his own troop and then becoming secretary of the London-based International Scout and Guide Club. In 1982 he spent six months travelling the world, visiting many of his Scouting friends.

Mr Bottomley -- who was married in 1946 -- moved to Scotland ten years later to take up an engineering post with Hoovers but his love of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, where he honeymooned, always remained.

In 1972 he moved to Cumbria, where he and his wife Bertha had a bed and breakfast business in Tebay, before eventually retiring to Appleby.

The couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary just a few days before his death.

Mr Bottomley is survived by his wife, five children and seven grandchildren.

The funeral is at New Church, Braithwaite, on Wednesday, 1.30pm.