Obituary: William Francis Hobson, Cockermouth: 21.07.25 - 16.03.19

Bill was born and bred in Cumberland and proud of it.

He was the only son of Francis Mary and William Anthony Hobson. His father died when Bill was two and he lived with his mother and paternal grandfather at Wood Hall, Cockermouth until 1939.

Aged seven he went to Lime House School in Wetheral, Carlisle, before completing his education at Shrewsbury School. He loved the cricket, rowing and shooting during his time there through the war years.

Bill served his Army years in the Royal Artillery as 2nd Lieutenant with whom he went to India. After returning to Cockermouth in 1948 Bill settled at Hillside, Lamplugh Road, and secured a job within the civil service at Sellafield (then Windscales) until 1985.

Through the 1970s and early 80s Bill was first treasurer and then chairman of the Cockermouth Anglers’ Association, responsible for numerous purchases of fishing rights along stretches of the Derwent and Cocker to avail quality fishing for local people as well as establishing Cogra Moss as a rainbow trout fishery in 1975.

Voluntary work on various committees for the River Authority and North West Water resulted in an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden party.

In 1976 Bill had a short spell as a media pundit with an appearance on Look North to comment on the severe drought that had afflicted the country.

Post retirement and having moved to Papcastle, Bill joined the parish council and spent many happy hours walking through his beloved fells with his dog by his side.

He was an archetypal old school Englishman typical of his generation. Truly a local man, the River Derwent had coursed through his veins since childhood and he had never lived in a home without a view of Skiddaw or Grasmoor.

Bill is survived by Lore, his wife of 65 years, together with his children, Nadine and Miles, and grandchildren, Ben, Lauren, Raffe and Joss.

The warmth and friendship shown to him by local people can never be underestimated nor forgotten.

Miles Hobson