A ‘deeply loved’ Whitehaven man has passed away aged 76, despite his family being told after his birth he was only expected to live for six years.

Jimmy Dick, who ‘won the hearts of the community’, died peacefully at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven on February 4.

James Whiteside Dick was born on January 12, 1947 and was mentally and physically impaired.

Medical assessments that were carried out at Jimmy's birth determined he would not live past the age of six.

Jimmy was cared for and supported at home by his mother, Elsie Dick, until she passed away in February 2008.

Jimmy's care and support was then delivered at home by his sister, Jennifer McGrady and brother-in-law, Sam McGrady.

His nephew, Edwin Dinsdale said he was “deeply loved by all of his family and the community of Mirehouse and Whitehaven”.

Jimmy would attend St Benedict's Roman Catholic Church in the morning and then St Andrew’s Church in the afternoon.

He was also a regular at Mirehouse Social Club, Calder Club, Labour Club and St Benedict's Catholic Social Club, when he was younger, and his mobility was much better than it was in his later years.

Mr Dinsdale said the clubs all “really looked after him”, as did Malcolm’s chip shop at Mirehouse.

He said: “The community of Mirehouse and Whitehaven really did take Jimmy to their hearts.

“He played a massive part in my life. He was the life and soul of every party. He had his favourite songs that we would always play, if ever there was birthday or anniversary.

“His birthday had just passed and even though he wasn’t well, we still had his normal records on and he had his hands in the air.

”Our family would like to thank the community of Mirehouse and Whitehaven. We would also like to thank Hensingham Adult Learning Centre, which Jimmy attended, for over 60 years.”

Jimmy’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, February 22, at St Benedict’s Church Mirehouse, at 1.15pm.

He will then be interred with his mother at Whitehaven Cemetery at 1.45pm

The funeral procession will leave Whinlatter Road, Mirehouse, at approximately 1pm.

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