One of Hexham's longest-serving businessmen dies

Jim Cowell, who was 92, was a well-known and respected figure in the town for many decades.

He took over the ownership of the Thomas Ellis shop on Beaumont Street in 1969, having worked there for 19 years.

Jim first ran it as a painters and decorators, and then, together with his son Geoff, as picture framers and art suppliers.

Decorating jobs varied from Langley Castle, the Hydro, Forum Cinema and the Queen’s Hall, to whole estates of council houses and schools, farms, hotels and hospitals up and down the Tyne.

Born in 1930, Jim was raised in Acomb. His formal education was described by Jim as culminating aged 12, as during the Second World War schooling was not always a priority. Acomb School senior boys often used their time ‘Digging for Victory’, collecting and sorting war effort salvage and helping out on local farms.

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On Saturdays, and both before and after school, he worked at Acomb High House. On leaving school, he worked for a couple of years as a clerk at Cookson, Lead and Antimony Co Ltd in Newcastle before taking a job at Acomb Colliery.

In July 1948, Jim was called up to do his National Service, enlisting with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Blandford in Dorset. From there he went on to Arborfield, Berkshire, to complete a clerical course before being posted to 14 Command Workshops, Ashford, Kent as a Unit Pay Clerk. 

Having been demobbed, Jim returned home and in 1950, he joined Thomas Ellis, which was established in 1829.

Jim met his wife Joan Foster in 1954. After he invited her to a dance at Acomb Village Hall, they began courting.

They were married in Hexham Abbey in 1957 and lived in Hexham all their married life. They had one son and four daughters together.

Jim and Joan Cowell celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2017

A great deal of Jim's time was taken up in service and fellowship through Rotary. He was invited to become a founding member of Tynedale Rotary Club, in June 1977.

He was a part of the worldwide PolioPlus campaign, during the year he was President of the Club (1987/88), and proud to have been presented with the prestigious Paul Harris Award for outstanding service - the highest accolade that Rotary can present to an individual.

Jim enjoyed travel, loved his family and had a great appreciation for the art of horse racing.

Jim Cowell with his framed winner he backed in a race named after him at Hexham Races to mark his 80th birthday

Professionally, Jim will be remembered as a skilled craftsman.

Sociable and friendly, meeting with people and chatting was always a big part of Jim’s life. Friends recall him being a true gentleman, kind and with a great generosity of spirit.  

Jim felt very fortunate to have had the job he did. He said he had met some of the nicest, most genuine and honest people you could hope to meet and he took great delight in hearing where pieces he’d framed were destined to head to. A proud Northumbrian, he said travelling to jobs across this beautiful, scenic area had been a privilege.

Jim died peacefully in hospital, with family around him, on July 29.

He is survived by his wife Joan, children Geoff, Mandy, Jenni, Helen and Louise, and 11 grandchildren.