Grahame Jones is remembered (From Barry And District News)

Grahame Jones is remembered

TRIBUTES have been paid to a prominent member of the Rotary Club of Barry who recently died.

Grahame Jones, owner of Harmony Furnishings in High Street and former president of the Rotary Club, died aged 66 on June 2 leaving behind his wife, Janet, and daughter, Sarah.

Sarah said: "Dad was a kind, considerate and caring guy who just liked people and I am proud to say people liked him too.

"Behind his outgoing persona there was a quiet, thoughtful, gentle and often shy man who had a great deal of dignity.

"It goes without saying that I thought he was the best dad in the world and he made both mum's life and my life joyful and complete. When we were happy, he was happy, and that was all he wanted."

Carl Kerr, the current president of the Rotary Club of Barry, said: "Grahame was an example to Rotarians everywhere (why else would he have been awarded that thoroughly deserved Paul Harris Fellowship?) He was also a staunch friend to his peers and many others.

"Naturally, our sincere condolences go to Janet and Sarah and their family and we feel sure that for them especially, as well as our fellow Rotarians, he will be sorely missed."

Grahame was born in Mountain Ash on December 4 1937.

He began working life in the mines in the Cynon Valley.

He left mining after seeing a close friend killed in an accident underground and became a production manager at a carpet factory.

He then moved into retail, working for Seccombes of Cardiff and later as a buyer at the Dan Evans department store in Barry.

In 1979 he set up his own business, Harmony Furnishings in High Street.

Grahame was a founder member of the High Street Traders Association, a former president of the Barry Chamber of Trade and Commerce, and former president of the South Glamorgan Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Grahame once said the Rotary Club had given him the opportunity to give something back to the community where he earned his living.