James (Jim) Mavin (14 Jan 1934 - 15 Aug 2020)

In loving memory of James (Jim) Mavin who sadly passed away on 15th August 2020

James Gray Mavin was born on 14th January 1934 to May and George Mavin. James, who we all know better as Jim is survived by his wife Shirley; his son Paul; and his grandchildren Alfie and Evie.

Jim was born in a small colliery village called Pegswood which is in Northumberland. His father, brother and grandfather were all miners as were most working men in Pegswood and the surrounding mining towns. Jim, however had other ambitions. Considering the real risks to life and limb, Jim was keen to not work at the coal face. Instead he took a job on the surface in the national coal board offices. He worked hard, studied at college, learned how to type, and demonstrated a real interest and skill in mathematics, numeracy and accountancy.

Jim then joined the RAF in 1952. He was trained as rear gunner was stationed in Bletchley and Norwich. He was very athletic as a young man and he was snapped up to join the RAF sports team. He excelled at sprinting ran competitively in the RAF and continued his running career after he was demobbed.

Jim then ran competitively on the professional circuit attending races throughout Northumberland and Scotland. He was a very talented runner, winning many races. One of the most memorable races was at Berwick Games when he won on the same day that the Queen was visiting the town. Although Jim won the race, he was unfortunate to end up in the Berwick Infirmary when he collided with another runner who threw his arms up to challenge Jim on the finishing line and dislocated Jim’s shoulder in doing so. However, Jim was not disturbed by this as he eventually walked away with a tidy sum in prize money.

When Jim was demobbed from the RAF in 1954, jobs were in very short supply so Jim returned to Northumberland and joined his brother Tony working in Temples Gardens in Morpeth. It was here that Jim learned that he had green-fingers and he developed his lifelong passion with gardening. He was an allotment holder all his life and grew many prize-winning leeks and onions in the annual competitions in the North East stronghold of vegetable growing. Jim was very well known locally for his generosity with regular delivery of home-grown fruit and vegetables to the local community.

In 1956 Jim began working for the NHS when he secured a job as a wages clerk in Northgate Hospital in Morpeth, Northumberland. It was here that Jim met Shirley, his wife to be who was a young student nurse working with people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. After a courtship, Jim and Shirley married in Morpeth in 1957, Shirley qualified as a nurse and they began their life together in Pegswood and then Longhorsely Village in the north east accompanied by a small menagerie of pets including his favourite a boxer dog called Rocky.

Jim’s love of animals was prominent throughout his life, he would often rescue animals in need and bring them home. Stray cats, a hedgehog, a tortoise and a springer spaniel found on the railway line all became parts of the family one way or another.

In 1964 Jim left the NHS and secured a job with Charlie Chisolm’s Turf Accountants as manager of their office in Blyth, Northumberland. Jim was able to put his mathematical skills to very good use as he possessed the ability to work out the most complex odds in his head without the use of a machine.

Jim very much enjoyed a flutter on the horses, he was generally very lucky but would delight in explaining to everyone that his success was always down to diligently studying the form or trainers or tracks, never purely good fortune.

Jim joined his local masonic lodge on 4th July in 1967 in Morpeth Northumberland and remained part of the masons for most of his life. He progressed in the masons rising to Mark Master in 1968 and then became Worshipful Master in 1979/80 in Newminster Lodge Morpeth. Jim and Shirley then moved to Essex in 2008 and Jim joined St Margarets Lodge. Jim found a great sense of belonging and comradeship within his Freemason friends. For Jim the four important values that underpin the Freemasons: - integrity, friendship, respect and charity have helped to define his ideals as he progressed though his life.

Jim was also a prominent member of the local working men’s club in Ashington. Although Jim enjoyed a beer or two as much as the next man, Jim supported the club with his accountancy skills for many years with managing the club books.

Jim has a son Paul and two grandchildren called Alfie and Evie. Jim was very much a family man throughout his life, and he loved spending time with his immediate and extended family. He has always demonstrated commitment to his family and throughout his life has made sure that he has done everything in his power to ensure that they were secure, nurtured and well taken care of.

In 1971 Jim decided that he wanted to change his job from managing a betting office and he returned to work for the NHS at Newcastle General Hospital. Jim remained working for the NHS at the hospitals head office in the White House for the rest of his career until his retirement in 1999.

Following retirement Jim and Shirley decided to sell their bungalow in Ashington, Northumberland and decided to Leigh on Sea in 2007. The main reason for this was to be nearer his family and most importantly for Jim, his Grandchildren, Alfie and Evie.

Jim and Shirley joined the Westley Methodist Church in 2008 and were welcomed into an extended church family with open arms. The local church has been a great source of calm, joy and friendship for Jim and Shirley where they have made many lifelong friendships.

Sadly, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in his later years, but he continued to demonstrate his tenacity by never allowing this condition to get the better of him. In the last few months of his life Jim received sensitive and caring support from his family, the NHS, the complex intervention team at home and latterly at Delaware House.

Jim always had a twinkle in his eye to the end.