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A celebration of long-serving Jim’s life
SERVICE ... mourners proceed to the church for the funeral service of Coun Jim Capstick, inset.
THE life of one of South Tyneside’s greatest public servants has been celebrated by his family and friends.
It was standing room only at St Peter’s Church in Harton yesterday for the funeral service of Coun Jim Capstick, the borough’s longest-serving councillor.
Speakers were even placed outside to relay the service to mourners standing in the church grounds.
Coun Capstick, who represented Harton for the Progressives, died last week at his home in Glenhurst Grove, South Shields, at the age of 80.
A devoted family man, his casket was carried into the church by his two sons, Jim and Howard, and his two grandsons, Daniel and Paul, a sergeant in the Royal Artillery.
The service was very much an affectionate celebration of Coun Capstick’s life.
Coun Iain Malcolm, the Labour leader of South Tyneside Council, bid a fond farewell to the ‘father of the council’.
Quoting Shakespeare, Coun Malcolm said ‘we will not look upon his like again’, and reflected on Coun Capstick’s 45 years as a councillor, the pride he had in his family and the hundreds of thousands of pounds he helped raise for good causes as a freemason.
Coun Malcolm added: “Jim had a love for his home town, a compassion for his fellow human being and a calm common sense.”
In November last year that Coun Capstick was bestowed a Freeman of South Tyneside.
“He left us knowing how loved and respected he was”, Coun Malcolm said.
Daughter Jacqueline Nolan recalled her fun-loving dad who left behind ‘wonderful happy times and memories’ of fishing trips, caravan holidays, walking in the hills of Hexham – and scaring his children witless during a Hammer House of Horror movie.
Mrs Nolan said that through it all Coun Capstick always repeated his life-long approach to parenting: “It’s OK, it’s character building!”
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Coun Jim Sewell, read a message from the people of the borough’s twin town, Wuppertal in Germany, to which Coun Capstick was a regular and much-welcome visitor over the years.
Grandson Paul Rowley went on to read one of his beloved grandfather’s favourite poems, If, by Rudyard Kipling, including the famous lines which could have applied to his grandad: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs.”
Family and friends, including Coun Capstick’s wife Elma and their children – Jim, Jac, Howard, Adrienne and Judith – went on to his committal at South Shields Crematorium, followed by refreshments at South Shields Town Hall.
Twitter: @ ShieldsGazPaul
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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