Tributes paid to well-known businessman

TRIBUTES have been paid to Lewis & Cooper director and former PKF partner David Lewis, who has passed away following an illness.

Mr Lewis, 69, had no blood link to the Northallerton-based gourmet food, wine and hamper firm’s Victorian founders.

But his involvement with the North Yorkshire business went back almost 30 years, initially as auditor.

Mr Lewis joined the board as a non-executive director in the late 1990s, making regular visits to Lewis & Cooper’s Northallerton headquarters, latterly from his home in the village of Hawksworth, between Bradford and Otley.

He had a long association with global accountancy and business advice specialists PKF and worked from its Leeds office from 1975.

He had spent the previous eight years with the firm in British Honduras (now Belize) and Barbados.

Mr Lewis had trained with Clay Russell & Co in Nuneaton from 1960, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1966 before starting his career with PKF a year later.

Dr David Geary, chairman of Lewis & Cooper, said: “David was a lovely man, one of nature’s true gentlemen. We’ll all miss him as a person and for his wise counsel. His ability to take the heat out of an argument and provide the foundations for a strong consensus was a great asset.

“David was also a major advocate of our plans to expand the business – our new Harrogate store, which opens this week, will be a fitting testament to his ambition.”

Bob McNaughton, northern region chairman at PKF, said:  “David Lewis was a highly respected partner at PKF. He played a huge part in the development of our Leeds office before he retired in 2003; he was the chairman of our Leeds office for seven years.  

“He was passionate about what he did and this was reflected by the strong bond with his clients and colleagues. David will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with his family.”

Mr Lewis died in hospital in Tenerife after fighting an illness contracted while on holiday. He leaves a widow, Vyv, and two daughters, Sophie and Anna.

He was a keen Rotarian and a founder president of the Rotary Club of Otley Chevin in 1989. He went on to be closely involved with Rotary’s district organisation and its charitable works.

Following a private cremation at Skipton Crematorium, a thanksgiving service took place at Otley Parish Church last Friday.