David was a man of camping, of mountains and God. He had scaled all the Munroes in Scotland (mountains of 3,000+ ft), all the peaks over 2,000 ft in Wales and all but one of England’s high peaks. Surprising when you learn that he was born in Southport: surely one of the flattest places on the west coast! Pillar Rock he got close to, but needed ropes and climbing gear to reach the very last pinnacle. Sons Iain and Alan have plans to get there for him.

As a schoolboy he attended the local King George V Grammar School before joining the Army; this led on to an interest in rifle shooting at a later stage of life. He was also interested in astronomy from an early age; again, something he returned to more recently.

At 19 years of age he was home on leave and went to the Floral Hall to see a rock band. By chance Elaine had found nothing to entertain her in Wigan that night, so – with a group of friends – had gone to that same concert. They met and at the end of the evening it was arranged that David would visit Wigan to see her again. She went home not really expecting him to arrive, but go he did and that was the beginning of their history together.

In time David was able to buy himself out of the Army, return north and to marry Elaine. They first lived in Wigan but soon came to Preston when David took up a post with Lancashire County Council, with whom he stayed until retirement at 52 – and what a lot he has packed into those past 11 years, including the interest he and Elaine shared in bird watching. Family holidays were much enjoyed too.

When elder son Iain was a small boy and joined the Cubs, David had offered to help with the group, but as with everything David did it couldn’t be half-hearted: he went on to become a Scout Leader, Group Scout Leader at our church and A.C.C. for Lancashire. Through Scouting he visited a number of European countries, went to Greenland and Canada, trekked in Nepal quite recently and saw Everest. He also took on the challenge of the Scout group at Moorfields, a local school for disabled children, even getting someone in a wheelchair up a mountain to raise funds for the group’s camp. All that came on the back of a sporting life, both playing and watching a variety of activities. More sedately he loved music of all sorts, from Bob Marley to Mozart; he knew what he liked (and didn’t like).

David had regular involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, became an assessor for expeditions and also a Wild Country Assessor. He held all the necessary mountain safety certificates, and trained other people to obtain theirs.

Public service was a major part of David’s life: he was a Governor of Fulwood & Cadley C P School, Chair of Governors at Broughton High School, invigilated exams at Newman College and was a local Magistrate. At Christmastime this year we shall greatly miss his involvement with the sharing of The Peace Light, which will have come from Bethlehem via Austria.

David’s dedication to others stands out above all else.

Elaine, Iain and Alan Ridout and their family would like to thank the Church family for their love and support during David's illness and after his death. Special thanks to Peter, for being there, Geoff, for the music, the ladies who provided wonderful refreshments and all the others who helped on the day of the funeral. Thanks also for the many cards and letters and all the donations in David's memory. I am sure that I have missed someone out and if so, I apologise.

God bless you all