A true country gentleman, conservationist, forester, farmer and devoted family man Tim Rowley, of Newrough, near Glassonby, has died following an accident on his farm while in his woods.
Tim, who was 81, died last Tuesday at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, 10 days after being critically injured by his all-terrain vehicle while finishing last-minute jobs prior to a greatly-anticipated fishing trip to Ireland.
Fishing was one of the many passions Tim shared with his family and many friends, along with stalking, shooting, beekeeping, forestry and conservation work.
The youngest of the three children of Major Guy and Muriel Rowley, of Glassonby Lodge, Glassonby, he was christened William Timothy Chaffey, but was mostly known as Tim.
He had no interest in people’s age or status and delighted in sharing news and knowledge with all generations, with an abundance of laughter from the many tales with which he regaled folk.
Tim considered himself very fortunate to be able to do the things he loved in the special place he called home, and was particularly fond of the land around the River Eden and Hartside.
He was brought up at The Lodge, although born at the same maternity home in Edinburgh as his late brother, Robin, with whom he worked in partnership for several decades.
He was also very close to his sister Muriel (known as Muffy), who was able to visit him shortly before his death.
Tim was a great raconteur and storyteller, often about his school days, saying he “ran away from several and was asked to leave others”.
He had a tutor at home from the age of 13, studying in the family museum, but recalled that he spent as much time trying to sort out his tutor’s complicated love life as he did studying.
Tim then completed his education at Millfield School, Somerset, where he was captain of birdwatching and bicycles. He frequently joked that the only examinations he passed in his life were for his driving licence and a deer management course.
After Millfield, he worked at a co-operative-owned farm at Wooler, in Northumberland, and then studied at Newton Rigg College, near Penrith, with his late brother.
They then formed a partnership, with Tim running the farm and Robin the forestry. He had a mixed farm with a beef herd and sheep, but his real love was in the woodlands.
He planted many thousands of trees, created numerous ponds and hedges, while passing on much knowledge to the younger generations of whom he was so fond.
Being ahead of his time in forestry and conservation, he showed great foresight favouring mixed tree species and fruit trees, to encourage wildlife, which proved invaluable with the arrival of ash dieback and other tree diseases.
A fervent countryman and outdoors man, he did not enjoy formal social gatherings but delighted in talking to people. “He loved to stop and chat to everybody and anybody. Time in his company was always full of fun and laughter,” said Bridget, his wife of 48 years.
The couple met through their shared interest in Africa, where Bridget had lived, and they spent a seven-week honeymoon in Kenya, although she recalled it was “less honeymoon and more pursuing buffalo through the bush”.
He also visited Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania and spent time fishing in the Bahamas and Alaska, as well as New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland, where he particularly loved the people, the land and the loughs in County Mayo.
The couple had two children, Grant and Anna, and Tim said he was blessed that they shared his interests, with his son loving shooting and his daughter fishing but both sharing an equal love of the countryside and its wildlife.
Only last year Tim and Bridget took their whole family on a safari to Kenya for his 80th birthday and their great delight was to see the magic of Africa again through the eyes of their grandchildren.
On 14th August this year they hosted a large gathering on the grouse moor at Hartside and although the only shooting was at clay pigeons, Tim said he had enjoyed it more than if they had bagged a hundred brace.
A kind person and family man, he was a keen practical joker and at one time used to ride his herd’s bull, Ferdy, through the village from Glassonby Beck to Maughanby Farm. He also greatly enjoyed his dogs and had 26 during his married life.
Although some may have considered him an eccentric, he simply loved rural life and the characters around him.
He was always busy, from making bramble whisky and birch sap wine to beekeeping and vegetable gardening. In his later years he was a keen gardener and a highlight was having all food on the dinner table produced from his farm and garden.
He took great delight in his grandchildren Fergal, Minnie, Maggie and Forest to whom he was affectionately known as Bamba, and in passing on knowledge to them.
Tim is survived by his wife Bridget; son Grant and daughter-in-law Lucy; daughter Anna and her partner, Chris; his four grandchildren and his sister Muffy.
A private cremation will be held at Winderwath, and a celebration of his life will be on Friday at 2.30pm at Addingham Church, very near his home and farm.
