AN AWARD-WINNING historian, who contributed to an understanding of Kendal and South Lakeland heritage, has died.

John Marsh was the oldest of four children born to parents Edith and James Marsh, of Byron Street, Ulverston, on October 26, 1931.

After attending the local grammar school and gaining employment with the Gas Board, Mr Marsh completed his two years National Service in the pay corp in Manchester, where he met his future wife, Jean.

On returning to the area, Mr Marsh joined the Cumberland and Westmorland Police Force. His first station was at Kendal, and after marrying Jean, the couple moved to Kirkby Stephen.

They later moved to Penrith and then Burton-in-Kendal, where Mr Marsh became the local village policeman.

Upon gaining promotion, Mr Marsh returned to Kendal to work as a juvenile liaison officer, and later as crime prevention officer.

Mr Marsh retired from the police in the mid 1980s, and devoted his free time to his love of local history.

He wrote books about Kendal and South Lakeland, and articles and interviews for newspapers, television and radio.

In 1995 Mr Marsh won the Lake District Book of the Year award with his title, The Lake Counties of 100 Years Ago.

In 2000, he was highly commended for his book, Cumbrian Railways, and a year later for his title, Cumbrian Memories.

Mr Marsh was also a friend of Alfred Wainwright, and worked closely with him on one of his famous fell walking books.

Mr Marsh kept a vast collection of postcards, photographs, local history books and paraphernalia.

He openly shared this priceless resource with other historians and gave his time freely to the many writers who turned to him for help and advice. Without his help and encouragement, many books on local history would not have been written.

Mr Marsh gave many talks to various groups and societies, and conducted popular guided walks around Kendal and on the Settle and Carlisle Railway.

He was a member of council for the Civic Society, and on the publication committee and council for the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.

He was also an active member of the Deaf Club and the Oral History Group.

Mr Marsh died peacefully on March 17, 2008, aged 76, in St John's Hospice, Lancaster, after a long and courageous fight against cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Jean, and their two sons, Paul and David, their daughter-in-law, Nicola, and granddaughter Jane.