TOM CAIN, WORKINGTON

Last updated 07:42, Friday, 11 July 2008

ONE of Workington’s best-known and most tireless charity workers has died.

Tom Cain

Tom Cain, who was 84, was a member of the West Cumberland Lions for 35 years and secretary for 22. However, health problems forced him to step down from the role in January.

During his time in office, the Lions organised many successful events, raising thousands of pounds for charity, notably the annual gala which used to be held at Harrington Marina on May Bank Holiday Monday, and its successor event, which is held in Workington’s Curwen Park.

But he will be best remembered for his work with the West Cumbria Talking Newspaper, which he founded in 1978 as a special project during the first of his three stints as president of the Lions.

He and his wife Denise, who was editor, worked with a team of volunteers to produce the newspaper for blind and partially-sighted people for 25 years until they stepped down four years ago.

Mr Cain was a member of one of the town’s great political dynasties. His grandfather, Tom Cape, was Labour MP for the town from 1918 to 1945 and his mother, Eleanor Cain, was a socialist councillor, alderman and a magistrate.

Alan Ellis, who succeeded Mr Cain as the Lions’ club secretary, this week paid tribute to him.

He said: “Tom gave his time to charity freely and without complaint. He was always ready to help anybody, and if he wasn’t able to help them himself he would find someone who would.”

Mr Cain died at his home in Coniston Crescent, Workington, and is survived by his wife Denise, sons Howard and Graham. He was also grandfather and great-grandfather.

Distington crematorium chapel was packed for the funeral service on Monday and friends have been invited to make donations in Mr Cain’s memory to another charitable cause, the Great North Air Ambulance.