AN inquest is due to take place following the death of a well-known retired dental surgeon.

Gordon Thistlethwaite, who ran a dental surgery in Ulverston for much of his long career as a dentist, died on May 19 following an accident at his home in Ireleth, Askam.

An inquest is due to be opened on Tuesday June 7 by Ms Margaret Taylor to determine the cause of Mr Thistlethwaite’s death.

It will be adjourned until October 20 for the full inquest.

Mr Thistlethwaite grew up and lived most of his life in Ulverston, attending Lightburn School, Victoria High and Ulverston Grammar School before studying for his dental degree at Glasgow University, graduating in the late 1960s.

He and wife of 28 years, former Advertiser and Mail columnist Louise Allonby, 56, had lived in Ireleth for the past 20 years.

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The 79-year-old was a popular and respected dentist and his surgery in Benson Street will be remembered by generations of patients for the large rocking horse that was a much-loved focal point of the waiting room.

Alongside his Ulverston practice, for many years Mr Thistlethwaite also ran denture clinics at Furness Dental Lab in Greengate Street, Barrow.

A keen rugby player in his youth, Mr Thistlethwaite was a former secretary of Furness Rugby Union Club in Barrow, playing competitively until his late 40s, after which, along with his great friend, the late Furness physiotherapist Joe Harrison, he was a keen armchair enthusiast of the game.

Mrs Thistlethwaite described her husband as 'a wonderful, kind man who saw the best in people and had a huge joy of life. He was always young at heart, positive, modest and more popular than he ever realised. I was so privileged to have spent the last 30 years with him. His children, grandchildren and I will miss him dreadfully and always.'

Along with his wife Louise, Mr Thistlethwaite leaves a sister, Elaine; three children from previous marriages, Donna, Gregory and Max; and four grandchildren, Tom, Emily, Mei and An Ni.