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GeneralPaul Lowe RIP

16th Oct 2016 17:57 UTCRoy Starkey 🌟 Manager

I have just learned the very sad news of the death of businessman and mineral dealer Paul Lowe. Paul will be known to many Mindat enthusiasts for his great energy and enthusiasm in bringing about and sustaining the popular Oxford Mineral Shows in the UK. Paul operated a number of different businesses in addition to his mineral dealing activities and was always interested and enthusiastic about his mineral hobby which he told me "helped to keep him sane".

He died yesterday in Truro after a short illness. Paul leaves his wife Nanette and a son and two daughters. There are no details yet of funeral arrangements, but I will post this here with an update to the thread in due course.

Meanwhile our thoughts and best wishes go to his family.

Roy

16th Oct 2016 19:12 UTCPaul Nicholson Expert

This is very sad news indeed. Rebecca and I were very shocked to hear about this. We enjoyed a great evening with Paul over a meal and a couple of drinks before the last Oxford show and we were looking forward to doing it again at the next show in November. He will be a huge loss to our collecting community. Our sincerest condolences go to Paul's family, and our thoughts and best wishes will be with them at this extremely sad time.

Paul.

16th Oct 2016 20:49 UTCSusan Robinson

George and I knew Paul, and we kept in contact every holiday season. Paul was such a nice fellow and we enjoyed his company very much when we got to see him here in the States. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to his family at this sad time.

16th Oct 2016 20:53 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

Terrible news.

Back in the early/mid 1990s, Paul was one of the people who helped me out with information when I was trying to build this little database of mineral localities which I called mindat. I remember he lent me his almost complete collection of Richard Barstow mineral catalogues, (which are now all available to download at http://barstow.mindat.org) - i was able to photocopy them all and used them to update a lot of the obscure UK mineral localities within my database.

I had the pleasure to go collecting with Paul and his son when they joined me on a Sussex Mineral & Lapidary Society trip to Bancroft in 2005, and of course met him at all the major UK mineral shows (including his excellent shows in Oxford - which I hope can continue in some form) many times each year.

My deepest condolences to his family. He will be missed, and he will be remembered.

Jolyon

16th Oct 2016 21:00 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

16th Oct 2016 21:51 UTCIan Jones Expert

Had heard earlier this evening. A great shock, my thoughts are with his family.

17th Oct 2016 03:39 UTCSean

Dang, this must be a slap-on-the-face news to Jolyon. Just a day or two after Mindat became 16 years old.

I'm sorry for you, Jolyon, and to those who loved him.

17th Oct 2016 09:22 UTCPhil James

This was a great shock to hear this news this morning. I've known Paul for many years and always enjoyed our chats when visiting the Oxford Shows or when he was an exhibitor at our Hampshire Mineral & Fossil Shows. I was very grateful to him for all the help he gave me with lighting for my own collections. I just can't believe he's gone so suddenly like this. My condolences go to his family. Many of our members also knew Paul and I know would also want to pass on their condolences to Paul's family. Phil James, Chairman, Southampton Mineral & Fossil Society

17th Oct 2016 11:41 UTCCourtenay Smale

The loss of a mineral colleague is always a sad event. The unexpected loss of Paul is a major shock to the mineral fraternity which he has served faithfully through his shows and business enterprises over many decades. He will be remembered for his quiet demeanour and willingness to help others without hesitation. My sincere condolences to his family.

Courtenay

17th Oct 2016 11:44 UTCPaul De Bondt Manager

I met Paul at the Ste Marie shows in the 80's and 90's.

He was a generous and sympathic man.

My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Paul.

17th Oct 2016 12:38 UTCAlan Barnes (2)

Very sad news indeed. I've known Paul almost as long as I've been collecting. He would always point out interesting rare species that he had acquired and would let me rummage through the boxes he had under his tables at the Oxford Shows to see if I could find a rare mineral that I didn't have. Always a thoroughly pleasant and helpful man, his death is a sad loss and my thoughts go out to his family.

Alan

17th Oct 2016 13:45 UTCJohn Thomas

Very sad news about PAUL Lowe , Ihave known PAUL a long time Avery lovely man

My thoughts oh is family my youresr in peace.

JohnThomas

17th Oct 2016 13:54 UTCSteve Rust Manager

A sad loss to the mineral dealing community,

Mine and Chris's condolences to his family.

Steve and Chris Rust

18th Oct 2016 11:03 UTCPeter Nancarrow 🌟 Expert

So sad; British mineralogy has lost one of its most active, helpful, and knowledgable people.

I can't say I knew Paul very well, but he was always so welcoming to visitors to his stand at shows, and even on those occasions when I didn't find anything I wanted to purchase on a particular day, he was quite happy to chat about minerals in general.

The Oxford show has become a major feature of the British mineralogical calendar, and as Jolyon has suggested, it would be a fitting tribute to Paul's memory if it continues for many more years.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Pete N.

20th Oct 2016 17:02 UTCRoy Starkey 🌟 Manager

Further to my earlier post, Paul's funeral will take place at 11.00 am on Friday 4th November at St Pirans Catholic Church, St Austell Street, Truro TR1 1SE.
CLICK HERE FOR MAP

Parking at the church is limited but there is a pay and display car park 150 yds away along St Austell St.

The church service will be followed by a private service at the Crematorium.

All are invited to meet Paul's family at a reception afterwards where food will be provided. If you are planning on attending please PM me and I will provide details.

To help with catering demands please let Nick Carruth know if you are attending (again, PM me and I'll let you have his contact details if you don't know them).

Thanks

Roy

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