A FORMER Mayor of Carlisle has died.

Barry Earp, who was aged 87, was Mayor of Carlisle for the civic year 2011/12.

He was also a city councillor and was a member of Wetheral Parish Council for over 45 years.

Barry was born in Middlesbrough and evacuated to a farm in North Yorkshire during the Second World War.

After school and National Service with the Royal Army Medical Corps, he gained a degree in Veterinary Science from London University, qualifying in 1959.

Barry’s early working life saw him live in Bury St Edmunds, Coventry and Bedfordshire.

He married Kay in 1960 and their daughter was born the following year.

The family moved to Cumbria in 1968, when Barry became a partner in the Coomara Veterinary Practice.

Through his work as a vet, Barry quickly became well-known and well-respected throughout the area.

He lived at various times in Wetheral, Cumwhinton and latterly Scotby.

He joined Wetheral Parish Council in 1975, serving on all its committees, with six terms as Chairman.

Barry was a member of the Hartley Trust, a member of the Wetheral Playing Fields Association, a Governor of Cumwhinton and then Scotby Primary Schools, and a Trustee of Carlisle & Eden Citizens Advice Bureau.

He initiated the successful campaign to re-open Wetheral station, found the land for a children’s play park in Wetheral and in 2012 secured the status of the village’s QEII Jubilee Playing Field.

After retirement, Barry was elected in 2003 as City Councillor for the Wetheral ward.

As well as playing his part in committee work, he was a member of the council’s Executive, then Deputy Mayor before becoming Mayor.

During his mayoral year, Barry declared war on litter, turning out in all weathers to lead litter-picking groups and collecting thousands of bags of rubbish.

With Kay at his side, Barry carried out hundreds of engagements across the district.

These included visiting schools, opening community events and welcoming visitors to the City.

One of the highlights was a meeting on the Wetheral station footbridge with Michael Portillo, who was recording his Great Rail Journeys.’

It was a mark of the man that, although not well, Barry attended last month’s meeting of Wetheral Parish Council.

At the same meeting, 40 years after the station’s re-opening, the Council recorded its thanks to Barry for securing its future.

This is one of the many projects for which the community has reason to be grateful to him.