Stewart Hulse led the Langdale Ambleside MRT for many years

A ‘larger than life’ former mountain rescue leader has died.

Stewart Hulse was a founder of the Ambleside Fell Rescue Team and later went on to lead the Langdale Ambleside team.

He was also a stalwart of the mountain rescue organisation nationally, campaigning for many years to get relief for the value added tax teams had to fork out.

Mr Hulse, who lived in Windermere, died on Saturday, aged 78.

Richard Warren, chairman of the Lake District Search and Rescue Association, the umbrella group for Cumbria’s 12 teams, said:” I was truly saddened to hear of the sudden loss of Stewart who I have known for many years.

Richard Warren: 'Stewart never suffered fools gladly'

“As founder of the Ambleside Fell Rescue Team and then later leader of the Langdale and Ambleside team he was someone who knew mountain rescue inside out.

“Stewart was one of those larger than life characters who was immediately recognised as soon as he walked into any room, energetic, forceful but also caring.

“He led many campaigns at team, regional and national level and will always be remembered as someone who never suffered fools gladly and spoke his mind.

“He will be sadly missed by all those who knew him. Our sympathy and condolences go out to his wife Joan and family from his mountain rescue colleagues across the county.”

Mr Hulse played football for Bury FC in his younger years, and was also an accomplished cricketer in his youth.

He was appointed an MBE after serving in mountain rescue teams for 42 years and sat on the fundraising committee of Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, vice-chair of all-party parliamentary group for mountain rescue, said: “Stewart was a fantastic champion for our mountain rescue teams and a tremendous footballer in his earlier years.

“But he was more than that; he was a colleague and friend. He gave me support and advice whenever I needed it.

“The money I was able to secure from the Government for our rescue teams was down to him, his ideas and advice.”