TRIBUTES PAID TO CAMPAIGNER

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THE wife of a campaigning pensioner has paid tribute to her “bolshy bugger” husband after his death in hospital.

Ken Arts, chairman of Barrow and Furness Pensioners’ Association, lost his battle with pneumonia at Furness General Hospital yesterday, aged 80.


Mr Arts, who lobbied for pensioners’ rights for more than a decade, was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit two weeks ago with breathing problems.


He died with loyal wife Margie, a fellow activist, at his side.


In an emotional tribute to her husband of more than 30 years, Mrs Arts said she would always remember him as a “bolshy bugger who was always argumentative for a good cause”. She also vowed to continue with the association’s planned protest against cuts in Barrow town centre today, as she believes it is what her late husband would have wanted.


Mrs Arts, of Newby Terrace, Barrow, said: “When the pensioners’ group was being set up, we went to a meeting and I told him not to sign up for the committee, but of course, you never told Ken not to do anything and in the end he turned out to be chairman.


“He was solidly behind our campaign against these cuts. He’ll be there in spirit. If my microphone goes wrong, that’ll be him.”


Mr Arts was called up for National Service in 1953 after completing an apprenticeship in Barrow’s shipyard. He served with the RAF and was largely involved in mountain rescue team operations.


Mr Arts suffered asbestos damage to his lungs after working in the shipyard and worked to support victims of mesothelioma and asbestos-related illness in Barrow.


In later life, Mr Arts also worked as a health and safety representative for Royal Mail in Barrow.


Mr and Mrs Arts were married in 1973 – exactly one year after they first met – and had one son, 31-year-old Keir.


From taking to the streets of Barrow to protest to grilling politicians and councillors, the couple were rarely without one another as they highlighted the plight of pensioners.


Mrs Arts said: “He fought against the unfairness of the whole system towards pensioners.”


Outside of campaigning, Mr Arts was a popular character in the community, with a wicked sense of humour and who enjoyed life’s simple pleasures.


Mrs Arts said: “I was reminding him of when we first met in hospital. I can remember telling him I liked his beard and he said ‘you can have it if you like’.


“He will be missed but he was really struggling with his breathing and it was his time to go. It’s nice to remember happy times.

“Ken was always happiest when he could lay back looking out over Coniston Water eating his sandwiches.”