Dad (Tom) was born 19th February 1929 at the Barns son of Robert (Bert) and Margaret. Youngest brother to Katie, Susanna & Robina. The family moved to Holme House when he was small. He used to go to Walton school in his clogs  on his pony Topsy and put her in a paddock on the green for the day before the ride home. In 1941 they moved to Stonecross Rigg and in 1946 moved down to the Hardhurst. He met Kathlyn Calvert at a dance at Askerton Castle. They were married 17^th September 1955 at Lanercost Priory. John was born in 1956 . Which saw a move to Forest Lodge, where Marjorie and Mark were born. Then in 1973 moved back to the Hardhurst when his Dad & Mam retired and moved to Forest Lodge. Susan was born  in 1974. Dad farmed the Hardhurst and in 1975 bought Nickes Hill Farm where dad farmed both with his family. He was very proud of his Galloway herd and he showed them all over and won various cups and rosettes. Before a sale or show you would walk into the byre and the cattle would be lined up all washed, shining, combed and dried looking very smart, he was a well known fella. He even had cattle go as far as Germany and was a member of the Galloway Society and attended regular meetings at the Crossings. He also prided himself on having some of the heaviest lambs at Longtown Auction on a Thursday.

He was very proud of his family, John married Heather in 1986 , then David was born . Marjorie married Brian in 1985, their family arrived, Heather, Janet & Jennifer. Mark married Agnes in 1991, and had Annie, Sam & Rob. Susan and Graeme married in 2001 and Iona, Glen & Roan came along. He was very proud of his grandchildren and all their achievements. Then Great Grand Children came along and he loved seeing them and giving them sweeties. Heather married John then Thomas was born. Janet married Scott and Rory and Oliver arrived. Jennifer and Kev married  and Alex & Elsie-Rose were born, he adored all of them .

In 1991 they retired and moved to Bowman House, where they had a lovely retirement. He helped Mam in the garden and had a great tattie bed. They had some great holidays, Dad didn’t really do holiday’s until he retired and Mam persuaded him to go. They went on some great coach trips with Katie & Joss to Cornwall, Newquay and up into Scotland and made some new friends on the way, which he still kept in touch with. Eventually he said yes to a big holiday to New Zealand in 2006. Having never been on a plane or abroad before they travelled with John, Dorothy, Denis & Barbara. Dad and Mam had a great time visiting lots of places, farms and beautiful scenery.

Mam took ill and they decided to move and found a lovely bungalow, Lea Gate in 2010 . It was close to Marjorie. They had a great few years together there. In 2013 Dad had to have a triple heart by-pass at Freemans Hospital Newcastle,  he recovered well but sadly in June, Mam passed away. Dad managed on his own with help from family, great friends and neighbours. In the spring of last year Dad unfortunately went blind and was struggling in the bungalow. Brian had the best plan for him to move into a wee bedsit at their house, it was ideal and he loved it. He could listen to the sheep & horses, and hear the Great-grand kids playing outside. He also made some new friends Tilly & Jess the dogs and the cats would always be in visiting him.

Dad had some great stories to tell and he had some great friends which kept in touch George, Tom, John, Graham, Robin and many many more. He liked nothing better than a good blether and a glass of whisky. Family too, he was very close to all his sisters Katie, Susanna & Robina. Dad and Susanna must have talked every day on the phone for the last couple of years. John & Dorothy, Nichol & Doreen took turns to pick them up (just Dad after Mam passed away) on a Sunday and have dinner at The Solway Lodge. They were a close family. Dad thought lots of his nieces and nephews too, loved to see and hear from them all.

Dad loved his music Margo, Derek Ryan, Brandon McPhee the list goes on. He was always going to see live music at various venues with friends and family. In the last few months he got on well with Alexa he would ask her for all sorts of music which was great, she struggled to understand his Cumbrian  accent sometimes which got a giggle. He liked nothing more than a good story and was always smiling even until the end he could have a good laugh.

He enjoyed his darts and going to watch Carlisle United play in his younger days and the social side that went with it. He loved a good doo, wedding or any get together. He went to the Shopford pub every Saturday night with Tom Edger and his dad Billy and Cyril Brown. One Saturday night on the way home from the pub a herd of cattle stampeded them and the car windscreen smashed, the car a right off, but no one was hurt. He told the story recently about his Dad in the hay field with some others, the Austin 7 with a bogie on the back was heading across the field to pick up some hay.  They couldn’t see anyone driving until it got closer and it was Dad aged about 6 or 7. Another was John, him & Marjorie driving back from Nickies Hill, John driving the tractor, Marjorie sitting at the front of the trailer and dad sitting on some gates in the trailer. They rounded the corner at Nickies Hill bottom, Marjorie recalls all the gates slinging off the back of the trailer with Dad sitting on them and landing in the middle of the road, Dad still sitting on them and laughing, and not a scratch on him. Lots of stories about going to dances on push bikes, motor bikes and in old cars with good friends and family.  

If you have any stories you want to share we would love to hear them ..

He will be sadly missed, but always in our thoughts.