KENDALIANS were saddened to hear of the death on Saturday, December 17, of Percy Skipworth Duff, former Kendal town treasurer, at the age of 89.

Percy was the successor to the legendary Alfred Wainwright, becoming treasurer of Kendal Borough Council in 1967. He became deputy treasurer of the new South Lakeland District Council in April 1974, a post he held until retirement in 1982.

He continued as treasurer of Kendal Town Council for a further 16 years before retiring in 1998 after 60 years of service to the town Percy was the only surviving Honorary Citizen of the town, an accolade of which he was very proud. He was made an MBE in 1986.

Away from his work environment he was treasurer to numerous local charities and served for 31 years as treasurer of the Mayor of Kendal’s Fund for The Aged and Infirm.

He was a local historian and very proud of ‘his’ town and along with his late wife Margaret had an extensive photographic collection which formed part of many articles in The Westmorland Gazette.

He was the author of four books on Kendal and was much sought after in giving talks to local societies. He was a keen motorcyclist, president of the Westmorland Motor Club and an honorary vice-life president of the Northern Centre Auto-Cycle Union. The Barbon Hill Climb, which is now in its 51st year, is a highlight of the National Motorcycling Calendar and now bears his name as the ‘Percy Duff Barbon Hill Climb’.

Percy was a keen supporter of the Kendal Rugby Union Football Club and until recently was a regular at their games. As well as collecting old photographs of Kendal he was a keen photographer himself with a particular interest in railways and travelled to many parts of Europe pursuing this hobby.

Percy leaves two sons, Paul and Michael, who are both keen motorcyclists, following in their father’s footsteps.

There will be a memorial service, to which all are welcome, at Stricklandgate Methodist Church on Friday, December 30, at 12.30pm