Lindsay Gutteridge, who has died, aged 84, was a science fiction writer, traveller and all round eccentric.

Lindsay Gutteridge, who has died, aged 84, was a science fiction writer, traveller and all round eccentric.

Mr Gutteridge left his London job in advertising after forging a career writing science fiction novels before retiring to travel Europe in a modified car, walk the Peddars Way sleeping rough and cover his toilet walls in his drawings, amongst other things.

Mr Gutteridge lived in Downham Market from where he became a frequent letter writer to the EDP and was also a painter, cartoonist and photographer. Travels in his 'snooze mobile', a car modified so that the front passenger seat was a bed, in the 1970s took him to the Balkans.

β€œHe seemed to be quite oblivious there was a war in that area,” said his daughter, Jane Willis.

Born in County Durham he worked in advertising in London, with a year's stint in Australia working at a sheep and cattle station.

When his science fiction novels took off he moved to Downham Market where he lived for the last 37 years in Howdale Road.

The books included Cold War in a Country Garden, Killer Pine and Fratricide Is a Gas.

True to his style, his daughter has covered his coffin in drawings for his final send off. The service will be at King's Lynn crematorium on Monday, June 18.