ONE of Hexham’s best known personalities has died at the age of 76 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Former antiques dealer Richard Boaden, who was twice Mayor of Hexham, devoted much of his life to voluntary and charity work in the town, notably as a leading member of Hexham Round Table, before becoming a founder member of the Rotary Club of Tynedale.

Born in Newcastle, he was educated at Haydon Bridge, before moving on to Hexham Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

After training with Hindmarsh & Partners in Newcastle city centre, he became a qualified chartered surveyor in 1970, but spent the next three decades running Boaden’s Antique Shop in the Market Place in Hexham, following the death of his father, Arthur in 1971.

During his time working in Hexham, he was heavily involved in numerous organisations and charities, as well as finding time to serve as an independent member of Hexham Town Council for eight years, including two terms as town mayor between 1982 and 1984.

He was chairman of Hexham Round Table, before in 1977 becoming a founder member of the Rotary Club of Tynedale, of which he was president in 1981-82.

Mr Boaden was a great supporter of Hexham’s links with its twin towns of Noyon in France, Metzingen in Germany and Brande in Denmark, serving as both chairman and secretary of Hexham Town Twinning Association.

Wearing his business hat, he was chairman of the Tynedale Chamber of Commerce, as well as chairing the Hexham Retail Committee, while on the leisure front, he was president of Hexham Amateur Stage Society, and chairman of Hexham Carnival Committee.

He also chaired Hexham Historic Trust, and was a governor at the Sele First School in Hexham.

Mr Boaden was involved with innumerable charities, being a former secretary of Hexham St Raphael Club, as well being secretary and chairman of Tynedale Committee for the Disabled, and was also involved with the TORCH centre,

He also played a key role in helping to establish both the Tynedale Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme and Tynedale Talking Newspaper for the blind. He was also a trustee of Northumberland Blind Persons’ Trust Fund (now known as Northumberland Association for the Visually Impaired)

He also served as chairman of Hexham almshouses providers Henry Bell Homes.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Sandra, and also leaves sons Michael (51) and Christopher (49) and Julia (47) and grandchildren Jack (21) Emma (19) Victoria (22) and Annabelle (16) .

Mr Boaden was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in around 2009 and was cared for at Wellburn House, in Ovingham, from March 2021 until his death in Hexham General Hospital on 5 January 2022 at the age of 76.

He retained an active interest and involvement in some groups until his illness led to withdrawal in around 2016. In later years, he played a lot of bowls at Hexham Wentworth Leisure Centre and before that was a member of Hexham Golf Club, playing both golf and squash for many years, and later at Stocksfield Golf Club

A large attendance is expected at the funeral service at Hexham Abbey on Tuesday, January 25 at 1.30pm.