Sponsored by
Widow’s tribute to ‘wonderful’ Jim
WONDERFUL AND UNASSUMING ... Elma Capstick with her late husband Jim.
THE proud wife of South Tyneside’s longest-serving councillor has paid a touching tribute to her ‘wonderful, unassuming’ husband after his death at the age of 80 this week.
Coun Jim Capstick has received fulsome praise from political friends and opponents alike for his near-45 years service to the borough.
The Progressive representative for Harton passed away on Monday morning at his home in Glenhurst Grove, South Shields, with his family at his bedside.
Today, his wife, Elma, remembered him as a “wonderful man, a wonderful husband and father and a doting grandfather”.
And she recalled the extraordinary day last November when her husband was made a Freeman of South Tyneside.
On the morning of the ceremony at South Shields Town Hall, Coun Capstick suffered a heart attack at home, and was taken to the borough’s district hospital.
But despite medical advice not to attend the tribute, he not only went along but also delivered a warm-hearted, off-the-cuff speech.
Mrs Capstick said: “There was oxygen and a cardiac specialist nurse on hand.
“Jim was told not to stand up and certainly not to make a speech, so what does he do? He stands up and makes a long, off-the-cuff speech. That was the kind of man he was.
“He just couldn’t believe it when he got the call from council leader Iain Malcolm to say he was being made a Freeman of the borough. It was beyond his expectations.
“He was such an unassuming man, but it was a tremendous honour to him.”
Coun Capstick, who also served the wards of West Park and Cleadon Park during his long council career, had suffered ill-health since a bout of pneumonia in July 2010.
People from all over the country are expected at his service of thanksgiving in St Peter’s Church, Harton, South Shields, on Tuesday from 10.15am, after which the cortege will go to South Shields Crematorium for 11.30am.
Mrs Capstick, who passed on thanks to all the medical staff who had cared for her husband, has the support of a close family, including their children – Jim, Jac, Howard, Adrienne and Judith.
She added: “We have had so many messages of condolence. He was loved and respected by so many.”
Twitter: @ShieldsGazPaul
Email to a friend
Print this page- Newcastle United weigh up bids for defensive duo
- Transfer Rumours update May 22: Sunderland, Newcastle United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR.
- Transfer Rumours May 22: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Wigan, QPR, West Ham and Blackpool
- Transfer Rumours May 12: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Blackpool, Reading, Tottenham, West Brom
- Transfer Rumours May 23: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Blackburn, Tottenham and Wolves.
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Jarrow
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.