A respected former Penrith solicitor who lived in Great Salkeld, but spent the winter months in New Zealand, has died aged 86.
Timothy John Strevens was born on 11th January, 1934, at Shirebrook, Derbyshire, a coal mining village, the younger son of GP Arthur Strevens and Lena Margery Strevens.
His education began as a weekly border with Mrs Parry’s school, Mansfield, before becoming a border at Clochfaen Hall Preparatory School and then Repton Prep School, at Repton, Derbyshire.
From 1947 to 1952, he attended Repton School, where he specialised in the Classics, gaining A-levels in both Latin Greek and ancient history, before going on to read law at the University of Oxford’s Hertford College.
While there he rowed for the Hertford College first eight in the Lent Torpids and the Summer Eights races. His interest in rowing was maintained by becoming a member of the Royal Chester, and later Agecroft (Salford) rowing clubs, after being articled to Douglas Macbeth of Wolstenholme Rainer and Macbeth Solicitors, Brown Street, Manchester, from 1955 to 1958.
He was then employed by the firm as an assistant solicitor, before a move was made to Penrith in October, 1959, where Mr Strevens was employed by Arnison & Co solicitors, firstly as an assistant and then a limited partner.
In 1966, following a brief spell of employment in Retford, Mr Strevens joined Cant and Fairer solicitors, in Penrith, where he specialised in conveyancing and wills, and became a partner in the firm, while living at Great Salkeld, until his retirement in April, 1990.
With a passion for motorcycling, which, Mr Strevens said, grew from him being forbidden to do because of a death of an uncle on one in 1921, he retired to a house on the TT course, Isle of Man, taking three motorcycles with him.
In July, 2002, he moved back to Great Salkled, with the pull of friends, villagers and the Eden Valley proving too strong, but he spent the winter months in New Zealand after buying a house at Nelson, South Island, in July 2001.
Architecture was one of his major interests, particularly Georgian architecture, being a member of the Georgian Group in London, and having a small architecture library of about 450 books.
Mr Strevens was a fan of walking, being a member of Penrith Ramblers, and the Nelson 50 Plus Group.
He was also a member of the British Humanist Society, believing in secular values, and was a passionate believer in the European Union ever since a speech made by Edward Heath in 1961 ahead of Britain’s first attempt to join the European Economic Community (EEC).
He is survived by nieces Patricia Bennett, of County Carlow, Anne Kenny, of Dublin, and nephew John Strevens, of Columbia, South Carolina.
