Former paratrooper Thomas Hodgson of Cleator Moor dies aged 105

Thomas Hodgson, of Cleator Moor, made national headlines in 2019 when he completed a charity skydive - 74 years after he had last fallen from the skies as a paratrooper in the army.

He made the 14,000ft leap to mark his 100th birthday and raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK and The Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Tommy Hodgson completed a skydive for his 100th birthday (Image: Archive)

The great-great grandfather had hoped to complete another skydive but was warned off by doctors after breaking his hip last year.

He died on October 20. A funeral service was held at St Leonard’s Church in Cleator on November 7.

Mr Hodgson was born in Rowrah and grew up in Moor Row. He joined the Royal Engineers in 1940 at the age of 19.

Tommy Hodgson in his army uniform in 1940 (Image: Archive)

He worked on the railways and when the army asked for parachuting volunteers, he jumped at the chance.

Mr Hodgson met his wife Mary in 1936 and the couple were wed on February 26, 1943 at St Leonard’s Church in Cleator.

After leaving the army, he worked on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and was a chargehand locomotive driver at Sellafield for 12 years before he retired.

Tommy Hodgson pictured at home in Cleator Moor on his 103rd birthday (Image: MIKE McKENZIE)

He was widowed 30 years ago and continued to visit his wife’s final resting place at St Leonard’s to ‘have a crack’.

Mr Hodgson lived independently in Cleator Moor and was still driving until shortly before his 104th birthday.