THE FAMILY and friends of a former solider who served in India and Burma during the Second World War have paid to tribute to “a natural Northumbrian character with a great local personality”.

Isaac Elliot, of Kirkwhelpington, died peacefully at home on May 1, leaving Mary, his wife of 49 years, and older sister Mary.

Born in 1925 in Molesden, near Morpeth, Isaac moved to Kirkwhelpington shortly afterwards, where he would go on to spend much of his life.

Working as a firefighter on the Wannie Line, he would cycle nine miles from Knowesgate to Redesmouth, each morning, often before sunrise.

When the line closed, in the 1950s, Isaac began working with the Forestry Commission, in Harwood Forest, near Rothbury, a job he kept until his retirement in 1990.

Isaac and Mary married in 1971 and the pair lived in Cliff House, close to the village green, where their garden was always much admired.

It was only in 2015, when his health deteriorated, that the couple moved to a nearby retirement bungalow.

Although the couple never had children of their own, they loved young people and were delighted to welcome nieces and nephews, as well as local children from the village.

His interest in young people was such that it led him to become a trustee of The Village Educational Trust and treasurer of Wallington Football Club, a position he kept for 15 years.

Isaac was also very much involved with the community, which he supported through membership of the Kirkwhelpington Parish Council, the Royal British Legion, the Memorial Hall committee and the Village Industrial Horticultural Show.

He was also a member of the carpet bowls club and whist drives and dances. During his youth, Isaac spent Sunday’ at St Bartholomew’s Church, where he and his father would plant daffodils.

Later, he would supervise the broadcasting of the Last Post and Reville on Remembrance Sunday as a proud ex-soldier.

On May 7, shortly after 2pm, family, friends and Kirkwhelpington residents lined the streets to pay their respects to a much-loved member of the community. Isaac was laid to rest with his parents in St Bartholomew’s Churchyard, among the daffodils which he loved.