A former Copeland county councillor and health campaigner has died aged 66.

Bernard Kirk, of Elizabeth Crescent, Whitehaven, was the chief officer of the West Cumbria Community Health Council, which was a health watchdog made up of local members of the community. 

He also became chairman of West Cumbria Primary Care Trust. 

Speaking about his role at his role at the Community Health Council, Mr Kirk said: "We listened carefully to the experiences of local people, and if we wanted to challenge the way services were provided for them, we could.''

As trust chairman he explained he wanted to "engage with the public, get the NHS to speak to them in a language they understand, and ensure services are compatible with their needs.

“Local people need to know services will be there for them when they need them. That means encouraging the NHS locally to become more flexible, to look at new ways of doing things, so that services are really local and the best they can be.” 

Mr Kirk was also a Labour county councillor for Bransty ward and was also president of Whitehaven and District Lions.

In 2002, while Mr Kirk was president, he presented Whitehaven Park Keeper Michael Little with a framed marking him as an Honorary Lions in recognition of the work to the organisation during the town's carnival day.

Mr Kirk leaves his wife, Christine, son, Matthew, daughter, Catherine and five grandchildren. 

His funeral was held at Distington Hall Crematorium last Friday. Donations in memory of him to Vascular Disease, with enquiries to The Co-op Funeralcare, 2, Lowther Street, Whitehaven.