Tributes paid to former bell-ringer at Dalton St Mary's, Bill Wall

Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Daltonian William (Bill) Wall who has died aged 92.

The great-grandad leaves behind his wife of 70 years Norma, their four children, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

A 'fascinating' Dalton character who never failed to make others smile, Mr Wall was treasured by his dear friends and family.

He was born to parents Sarah-Ann and Isaac on April 22 1929. The family lived on Church Hill in Dalton before moving to Market Street.

After attending the Green School and Dowdales, Mr Wall started work at the Laundry in Dalton but soon had to complete his national service where he ended up serving in the Officers Mess.

On returning from his National Service, Mr Wall returned to work at the laundry then onto Vickers to work in the offices.

Mr Wall had a variety of other jobs in his lifetime including working at Hill’s Bakery, being landlord of the Canal Tavern in Ulverston and steward at Dalton Conservative Club - the latter two with his beloved wife Norma whom he married here in 1952.

Mr Wall was a long-serving bell-ringer and tower captain at Dalton St Mary's Parish Church, where he worshipped all his life.

He also enjoyed Billiards, quizzes, gardening, art, singing, travelling and spending time with his family.

His granddaughter Karla McCowen described her late grandad as someone who 'never failed' to make everyone around him smile.

She said: "He was known for his sense of humour - he was always laughing.

"He was quite silly, he was always making people laugh with his jokes.

"He loved talking and reminiscing about his childhood and talking about the history of the town."

Mrs McCowen said family brought 'so much joy' to her grandad and they all loved his company.

She said: "The great grandchildren brought so much joy to him. He loved their company and they loved his. Singing to them, playing pass with a ball, offering them toffees, pulling silly faces to make them laugh and swinging them from side to side and pulling a face when he was told to put them down.

"Grandad made his own telescope and would take us into the backstreet to look at the moon and stars. He was a keen astronomer and loved to teach us too.

"He loved painting and drawing, and teaching us to draw and use oil pastels.

"We often sat on his knee to look through his art books, making up funny tales about the pictures to make us laugh.

"He loved telling us about his childhood and all the memories he had. He had lots of funny tales too, sometimes he couldn’t speak for laughing which would only make us laugh too.

"We will all miss our grandad dearly but we have so many memories to treasure and they will never fail to make us smile."

To mark his years of service at Dalton St Mary's, ten bells were rang in memory of the former bell-ringer and tower captain.