A DOTING dad, TT racing legend, and world record holder has sadly passed away.

Frank Whiteway, born in 1940 in Kendal, has died at the age of 82.

At the time of his passing, he had been living in Hawcoat, Barrow, where he had lived for the last five decades.

His daughter Julie Whiteway, who lives in Canada, described him as ‘inspiring, humble, meticulous, enthusiastic and well-respected’.

Frank was an Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix winner – and a holder of a World Record.

“He had originally worked for Eddie Crooks as a mechanic, Eddie Crooks also sponsored him when he was racing in the early to mid 60s,” said Julie.

“After winning the TT and Manx Grand Prix he retired from racing and focused his life on his career, he put himself through night school and he then became qualified to become a lecturer.”

Frank worked full time at Furness College of Further Education and was eventually promoted to senior lecturer and Head of Motor Vehicle.

Julie said: “When he took retirement after 25 years from the college, he pursued another love, golf. He enjoyed his retirement and was captain at Barrow Golf Club in 1995/96.

“Frank was approached by a head hunter for Kimberley Clark and came out of retirement and back into the teaching world where he facilitated the creation and set up of the apprenticeship training school with Peter Clyde.

“He loved teaching the apprentices there and told me that working at Kimberley Clark was the best job he ever had.

“He absolutely loved going into work every day and said his colleagues and the students and the management team were amazing.”

As well as enjoying motor racing and golf, Frank enjoyed trail riding with the Barrow and District Motorcycle Club.

He also enjoyed helping friends and neighbours with mechanical issues with people joking ‘if Frank can’t fix it, nobody can’.

Julie said: “He was at his happiest tinkering around with a small engine or something else mechanical. He always had something in bits trying to fix it.”

Frank leaves behind his wife Dorothy, his two daughters, Julie and her sister Susan Walker, and Julie’s two children.

Julie said that it had been ‘incredibly humbling’ when news of Frank’s passing caused an outpour of love on social media.

She said: “I never really realized how many people’s lives he actually made such an impact on. He always taught us to be the best - the best we can be.”