Tributes have been paid following the sudden death of a well-known retired Furness dental surgeon.
Gordon Thistlethwaite, who ran a dental surgery in Ulverston for much of his long career as a dentist, died on Thursday May 19, following an accident at his home in Ireleth, Askam.
Mr Thistlethwaite, 79, 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.
Mr Thistlethwaite 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.
He was a talented pianist who derived much pleasure from playing classical music with friends.
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.”
Lifelong friend, retired Ulverston pharmacist Ashley Hewitt, described Mr Thistlethwaite as “always such fun to be around, with a plethora of jokes and an irrepressible, boyish sense of humour.”
Ulverston estate agent Ralph Spours, who acted as Master of Ceremonies at Mr and Mrs Thistlethwaite’s wedding in 1994, said: “Gordon was a true gentleman, a lovely man and a good friend to me and many others.”
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.
His funeral will be held on Monday June 6 at 2.30pm, at Ulverston Parish Church, Church Walk, followed by burial at Ulverston Cemetery.
