WELL-known retired Island farmer, John James Kingswell, died at St Mary’s Hospital, aged 86, after a short illness.
Mr Kingswell was born in 1923 at Tapnell Farm, Freshwater, the second son of Jack and Gladys Kingswell.
He lived on the Island all his life and became a prominent figure in the farming community.
Following his education at Newport Grammar School, Mr Kingswell joined his father and brother, Roy, working together at Fresh-water Farm, before moving with them to Idlecombe Farm, Carisbrooke.
In 1949, he married Cicely Aylett and farmed West Ashey before moving to Rowlands Farm, Haven-street. He loved all things connected with the countryside, particularly the sport and other activities the land provided.
For more than 20 years he was master of the IW Foxhounds and regularly wrote hunting reports for the County Press under the nom de plume JJK, for which he remained widely and affectionately known. During his hunting days, he was often a guest of West Country hunts and had recently been writing for a countryside publication recalling his memories of those times.
He had also been involved with the Royal IW Agric-ultural Show, the annual ploughing match and Gilten Market, his last social event being the Gilten Market dinner at Brickfields as president.
In the early 1990s, he moved to Westover Park Farm, Calbourne, where he shared many happy years with his partner, Mary Chapman. In recent years, he enjoyed playing bowls with the local club at Freshwater and also helping his son, James, with the day-to-day running of the Gatcombe shoot.
Mr Kingswell leaves his partner, brother, sister, Jean, children, Mary, Elizabeth, and James, along with eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
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