Alfred Wainwright: Writer's friend Andrew Nichol dies aged 91

Alfred Wainwright struck up a close friendship with Andrew Nichol (left), despite often being described as a recluse

The man who helped bring guidebook writer Alfred Wainwright to nationwide attention has died at the age of 91.

Publisher Andrew Nichol became friends with the author through his work at the printing firm Westmorland Gazette.

Wainwright, whose books contained pen-line drawings of more than 200 hills and mountains, died in 1991.

Last October, mountain rescue volunteers helped Mr Nichol, of Kendal, make his first visit to the spot where his friend's ashes were scattered.

In spite of his age, Mr Nichol walked most of the final mile to the Lake District's Innominate Tarn, near the summit of Haystacks, as Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (CMRT) members cheered him on.

'So humble'

Wainwright archivist Chris Butterfield, who helped organise the day, described Mr Nichol as an "unsung hero" for his work to keep Wainwright's books in print.

"If Andrew hadn't saved it, the Westmorland Gazette's book publishing department would have closed in 1982 and there would have been no [more] Wainwright books," Mr Butterfield explained.

"He was so humble and never wanted any fuss over his accomplishments."

The writer, who liked to be known as AW, later won further recognition thanks to a series of BBC programmes based on his books.

After more than 30 years, Mr Nichol was helped to visit his friend's final resting place in October 2023

Last year's trip by Mr Nichol to Innominate Tarn has been documented in an 18-minute film titled A Promise Kept: A Fellwalk for a Friend, which will be shown at a public event at Penrith's Rheged Centre on 11 May to raise money for CMRT.

Durham-born Mr Nichol said he "owed it to AW to visit the spot where his ashes were scattered".

Recalling their first meeting in an interview for the film, he joked the famously taciturn Wainwright had asked him whether he did much fell-walking.

Mr Nichol replied that he loved his garden and had done enough walking to last a lifetime during his National Service in Korea in the 1950s.

A team of volunteers helped Mr Nichol climb to Innominate Tarn

Mr Butterfield, one of the film's producers, described it as "a tribute to two remarkable men".

He added: "I'm pleased Andrew was able to fulfil his wish and the film has become so much more in the light of this news. Andrew himself was moved to tears upon seeing it.

"He was a family man and a gentleman, always smartly dressed in a shirt and tie, and has been part of my Wainwright journey from the very beginning.

"Taking him to Innominate Tarn was something I'd always wanted to do for him, to say thank you."