18258 RGS ONA Issue 99.qxp_v 06/02/2017 09:41 Page 16
Obituaries John Reed Cawood (54-61) Born 22 November 1942, died 15 August 2016, aged 73
John particularly enjoyed making domiciliary visits throughout the Tyne Valley to write wills and conduct family law business which remained his interest throughout his professional life. He became a partner in 1968 and senior partner in 1995 until his retirement in 2000.
John was buried in sight of Skiddaw following a service at Crosthwaite Church, Keswick attended by over 400 family and friends who gathered to pay tribute and give thanks for a life of kindness, loyalty and service.
He was an excellent communicator and became mentor to many legal probationers, some of whom went on to become partners in the same firm.
a mutual interest in walking and the Lake District, the romance flourished: they married the following year. Val gave up her career when Matt, the first of three children, was born. Matt is in business with West Cumberland Farmers, Lucie qualified in Law and then retrained for the Church and James, actor and playwright, now works in recruitment. John often said that had he not chosen the financially safer option of law, then he might have enjoyed the acting profession. He was a fine orator.
He served for many years as Chair of Governors at Central John enjoyed the outdoors particularly Newcastle High School and the in the company of Val, family and friends Northern Counties School for the Deaf, and preferably with a dog. Duffus, a and was also closely involved with the Scottie dog, the first of several that they Old Novocastrians’ Association: being owned, was bought in Harrods pet John was born in a Jesmond nursing department and became the subject home, a surprise undiagnosed younger President from 94-96. matter of many a cartoon with which twin to his brother, Harry, and with an John met Valerie Buckle, district John illustrated letters, greetings cards elder sister, Charmian. midwife and trainee health visitor, at and ‘little books’ which are treasured by a party in 1969 and, having discovered their fortunate recipients. The Cawood family lived in Gosforth. Following primary school education at John’s much loved Scottie dog, Duffus featured in a series of treasured cartoons illustrated Edgefield he entered RGS in 1954 and developed life-long friendships with by John himself peers and also teachers particularly Bill Tunstall (37-78) and Jeff Knowles (56-80 and 80-84). A keen tennis player, gold medal ballroom dancer, gifted pianist and a voracious reader he started to maintain a file and entered a comment for every book that he read. Leaving school in 1961 the brothers’ education widely diverged. Harry won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, London and became a renowned solo and orchestral violinist and music teacher. John pursued a career in law and joined John H Sinton and Co., Solicitors, Jesmond, serving five years as an articled clerk. He attended law school in Guildford and graduated in 1966.
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