TRIBUTES have been paid to a Grange man who was also well known throughout the Barrow area as the driving force behind a successful initiative to revitalise the area’s economic fortunes.

Alan Forsyth, who has died at the age of 91, was the inspirational chairman of Furness Enterprise, which sought to create new opportunities in the region following the loss of many jobs at major employers in the town.

In addition to this work, Mr Forsyth was also a successful businessman and skilled engineer who oversaw the rise of Kendal-based company Furmanite.

But he was also an accomplished writer and painter whom after moving to Grange in his later years became well known for posting up poems, some written by himself and some by others, on the gatepost of his house opposite the station.

“When a planning notice was put on the gatepost, we watched so may people stop to read it, so when it was removed Alan thought it would be nice to out a poem there instead,” said his widow Jennifer.

“It became a regular thing and he put up not only his own work but various Lakeland poems.

“So many people would stop and read them and Alan loved to chat with them about the poems.”

The Mayor of Grange-over-Sands Cllr Peter Endsor said Mr Forsyth was a much loved figure.

“He was a very well respected and popular man,” he said.

“Mr Forsyth will be greatly missed and on behalf of the town council I’d like to offer my condolences to his family.”

Born on the Wirral, Mr Forsyth, served in the armed forces before joining Vickers Supermarine.

He was part of a two man operation which set up Furmanite in 1967, and he oversaw its growth into a multi-national engineering success story, and the company, which is now known as TEAM, continues to flourish.

Mr Forsyth, who was awarded an OBE in 1981, lived at Cartmell Fell for many years before moving into Grange.

He was a much loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and a private family funeral took place this week.