FRIENDS, family and colleagues have paid tribute to a former Bury FC player at a memorial service.

Stewart Hazlitt Hulse died on November 23, aged 78, and more than 250 people attended the service in Bowness, Cumbria, on Saturday, near his adopted home of Windermere.

Mr Hulse was born in Bury and played for the Shakers when, in his words, “players got paid 8s 6d”.

He also served as a linesman and referee, and acted as a mentor and assessor for young referees.

Having moved to Windermere, Mr Hulse was also a prominent figure in Cumbrian cricket and became an umpire at the end of his playing career at Ambleside Cricket Club.

Mr Hulse was also one of the founder members of Ambleside Fell Rescue Team and went on to serve as president and team leader of Langdale and Ambleside Rescue Team.

He was awarded an MBE in 2001 for more than 25 years of service to mountain rescue groups.

The distinctive red jackets of the mountain rescue team could be seen during the service at St Martin’s Church as Mr Hulse’s former colleague Brian Marshall recalled a “man of many talents” who helped to save lives.

Mr Marshall said: “We of the rescue teams are proud to have known Stuart — few men could be called a legend, but he was one.”

Also among those at the service were representatives from Bolton Mountain Rescue Team (MRT), which covers parts of Bury.

Bolton MRT leader Garry Rhodes said: “Stewart was a friend to all, a true gentleman, and a genuine hero.”

Representatives from the cricket and footballing worlds paid tribute to Mr Hulse, with Westmorland FA chief executive Peter Ducksbury praising his “great service to those wonderful games that we all love.”

In his address, St Martin’s Church curate Chris Jones said: “Stewart loved his dogs, he loved the fells, he loved to pull your leg and have a laugh, he loved giving of himself for others.”

Mr Hulse leaves his wife of 54 years Joan, children Caroline and David and grandchildren Abby, Benjamin and Rebecca.

Donations raised in his memory were collected at the end of the service for the British Heart Foundation and Derian House Children’s Hospice.