Laurence Harwood OBE, from Grasmere, sadly passed away on November 23 at the age of 87. He leaves wife Melissa, children Matthew and Alice and grandchildren Daniel, Luke, Theodora and Elliott, who will miss him greatly as he has been a “pillar of strength and happiness” in their lives. Mr Harwood first came to the Lakes while he was training to become a land agent at Cirencester Agricultural College when he helped at Somervell s farm in Kendal. He went on to run the National Trust in the North East, before he was transferred to the North West. His love of the Lake District, its traditions, its farming methods, nature conservation and way of life made him feel at home as soon as he was transferred here, said Mrs Harwood.
An affordable housing charity will use a generous bequest of £30,000 to help with the construction of two new cottages. The Lakeland Housing Trust (LHT) was left the money by long-term trustee Kathleen Atkinson, who died aged 84 in April last eyar. The charity, which provides rented homes for local people who cannot afford to buy or long-term rent accommodation in the Lake District, will use the money to assist with the construction of two traditional cottages at Grasmere and the full renovation of a property at Sawrey. Malcolm Tillyer, LHT chairman, said: “Kathleen was passionate about providing affordable housing for local people and she was a wonderful trustee for nearly 20 years.