MULTI-TALENTED writer, scientist, historian and Lancashire Telegraph columnist Ron Freethy died earlier this week aged 77.

The celebrated broadcaster and author of more than 100 books wrote regular columns on nature and walking for the paper from 1971 until earlier this month.

Mr Freethy, the third person to receive a heart-pacemaker in 1971, passed away in the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Monday night after suffering two strokes.

The former Burnley biology teacher was also internationally renowned for his work cleaning up industrially-polluted watercourses, from the Mersey Basin to Brisbane, Australia.

The keen-sportsman and Burnley Football Club and Lancashire County Cricket fan leaves wife Marlene, 75, son Paul, 48, and 16-year-old grandson Thomas.

Born in Barrow-in-Furness in 1936, he attended Ulverston Grammar School before doing teacher training in London.

He moved to East Lancashire to marry his sweetheart and RAF pen pal Marlene in 1962, teaching biology at Ivy Bank School in Burnley.

He started to write his columns for the Telegraph in 1971.

In 1985, Mr Freethy gave up teaching to write and broadcast full-time, doing several documentaries for Granada TV and presenting the children’s programme ‘The 8.15 from Manchester’ before launching a prolific radio career.

Earlier this year he and Marlene, co-author of several books with her husband, appeared on the TV documentary series ‘How the North was Built’, presented by Geordie TV and film star Robson Green.

His 100-plus books ranged from ‘ Lancashire’s Privies’ to ‘The Making of the British Countryside’ and included the history of the county’s cotton industry, local walking and nature as well as the experiences of ordinary people in wartime.

In the midst of all this writing, he found time to become one of the leading international authorities on cleaning up industrially-polluted watercourses, winning an major award for his work in the Mersey Basin, He also masterminded a similar environmental improvement around Brisbane Australia and knocked political heads together to achieve the same for the rivers crossing the Canadian/US border.

A keen sportsman he played cricket for Lowerhouse, suffered a major heart injury in a rugby accident leading to his pilot pacemaker and was at Turf Moor to see his beloved Clarets take on Yeovil earlier this year.

Son Paul said: “His death was a shock. He had been given the all-clear for another ten years when his new pacemaker battery was fitted. He lived life to the full.”

Marlene said: “We celebrated our Golden Wedding anniversary last year. We shared everything. He would want to be remembered for passing on his love of nature, the environment and local history to future generations through his writings.”

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “I read his columns regularly and did many of his local walks. His love of East Lancashire, its history and countryside was immense and infectious. He will be much missed.”

Lancashire Telegraph Editor Kevin Young said: “Ron Freethy’s contribution to the environment, literature and the understanding of East Lancashire’s history and landscape was immense. His commitment to the paper and its readers through his columns over 42 years has developed a loyal readership who will miss him and his wit and wisdom greatly.”

Funeral arrangements are currently being made.