Paul Hargreaves was born in Rawdon, West Yorkshire, on 17th July, 1934, to parents Lesley and Joan Hargreaves. He had a younger sister, Moira.
As a teenager, Paul enjoyed walking, potholing and exploring the Yorkshire Dales on his bicycle.
On leaving school he started work as an articled clerk with an accountancy firm in Leeds, attending night school to study for his professional qualifications. In 1957, he became a chartered accountant and then completed his deferred national service as an officer in the RAF, serving for two years in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
By this time he had met Dorothy who was to become his wife on 21st December, 1957. They were apart for the first few months of married life due to his posting abroad. He used to joke that the nearest he got to an aeroplane in the RAF was through his office window!
Their first home was in Boston Spa, near Harrogate, where two of their children, Richard and Sally, were born.
In the mid 1960s, Paul’s career took the family to Norfolk, where he worked for Reed Woodrow Flour Mills in Norwich, where their third child, Lucy, was born.
For a time he also worked as a consultant for a company in London.
Paul had always said he wanted to retire to the Lake District, but as luck would have it, he got there much earlier than planned. In 1971, he was appointed company secretary at Lakeland Investments Ltd. This involved taking financial and legal responsibility for the Lowther Group of companies, and later Truck Stops in Penrith. He was instrumental in setting up a pension scheme and in the 1980s introducing computer accounting.
He retired in 1995, then worked part-time for three years at the Lowther Housing Association.
As a lover of the great outdoors, being in the Lakes meant Paul could get out and enjoy walking on the fells and it also meant he could pursue his other interest, sailing.
Almost as soon as he moved up to Penrith, he joined Penrith Players, having been a member of an amateur dramatics society in Norfolk, and his first role was a Bow Street runner in the musical Oliver.
He remained a member all his life and was involved in many productions as an actor, behind the scenes or front of house, including frequently manning the bar. Paul was also treasurer for many years, keeping a clear eye on the club’s finances.
Mike Head, of Penrith Players, described Paul as a “stalwart” of the organisation. “He acted, helped backstage, but most importantly to me was a treasurer for many years. During that time his firm guidance steered us through good and bad times. I knew I could always rely on him. He will be missed, but not forgotten,” said Mike.
When Queen Elizabeth Grammar School became grant maintained in 1992, Paul was appointed as a governor, serving as chairman of the finance committee for about 15 years.
Paul was widowed in 2002. He moved to Temple Sowerby in 2006, where he and his partner, Kath Martin, enjoyed village life together, supporting many events and organisations, including the Temple Sowerby Wine Tasters. He also joined Penrith Croquet Club, based at Edenhall, where he played regularly.
Over the years, Paul climbed many of the Lakeland hills and with Kath he enjoyed several walking holidays in the UK, particularly in Scotland, and in Europe. Together they travelled all over the world, including the Far East, Africa, and the Caribbean, but Paul’s favourite places were in the Lake District and his beloved Yorkshire Dales.
Paul, who died on 13th July, just a few days short of his 89th birthday, had five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, of whom he was extremely proud, and he was never happier than when he had all his family around him.
He will be greatly missed by his family, partner Kath and her family, and all his friends. His funeral was held on 25th July at Eden Valley Crematorium, Temple Sowerby. Richardson’s Funeral Directors, of Penrith, had charge of the arrangements.
